NINE out of 10 teachers fear that children are missing out on learning vital skills because they are not playing enough sport outside school, according to a survey published today.

Pressure to get top results in school tests and exhausted parents are among factors holding children back from taking more exercise, the report suggested.

Pollsters YouGov found that 81% of teachers believe sport actively helps children concentrate and 64% said youngsters who play games in their free time are more confident and participate better in class.

Almost half of teachers questioned ( 49%) said it was equally important for children to focus on sport as on study and only a fifth ( 21%) cited top exam marks as the most important ingredient for career success in the 21st century.

Three-quarters of children interviewed told the researchers that they would like to play more sport with their parents - with more than half ( 55%) saying they actively prefer playing with their parents as they do not have to worry about making mistakes.

But 25% of parents admitted never playing sport with their children if they could avoid it while only 2% said they did so every day.

The report's author, Professor Richard Bailey, Professor of Pedagogy at Roehampton University, said that parents were struggling to strike the balance between work and play amidst increasing pressure from exams and tests.

Almost half ( 46%) of parents admitted reluctance as a result of their own perceived shortcomings, saying they felt either too old, not sporty enough or that they thought their children would prefer to play with someone else. Twelve per cent said that they felt too tired.

'Upbringing'

Prof Bailey said: "Sport is an essential part of a child's upbringing.

"Through playing sport, particularly with their parents, children learn unique life lessons that they don't pick up anywhere else and are vital to their development into well-rounded individuals.

"In an increasingly pressurised world it is easy to see why parents are so focused on academic success, but it is important that the balance between sport and study is adjusted."

The survey, commissioned by washing powder Persil as part of a campaign to get parents playing more sport with their children, is backed by England World Cup star Steven Gerrard and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.

The footballer said: "I want to put a call out to parents to get more involved in the coaching of their children.

"You don't need to be good at sport or know the rules of the game, it's about having fun, being encouraging and supportive, and realising that there's more to be learned from sport than how to compete."

'Healthy'

* YouGov spoke to 1,903 people - 577 parents, 751 children and 575 teachers - last month.

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "This survey on sports provision outside school highlights the important role parents play in keeping children active and healthy.

"Government investment of over é1.5 billion in school sport is already providing many more opportunities for children both in the curriculum and after school. Our aim is to ensure that all school children take part in at least four hours of PE and sport by 2010. We welcome parents playing more sport with their children outside school."

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