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Last Updated: Tuesday July 05 2005 13:27 GMT

Things to do before you're 10!

Girls enjoying climbing a tree.
Rolling down a grassy hill has come out as the top thing to do before you're 10, according to a survey.

Also included in the list are collecting frog spawn, camping in the garden and flying a kite.

The list has been drawn up by campaigners who fear children aren't spending enough time playing outdoors.

The Dirt is Good campaign has pinpointed 33 key activities which every child under 10 should have the chance to try.

TV star and mum-of-three Melinda Messenger is backing the campaign. She said: "When I was a child I was forever playing outdoors, making dens and mud pies.

Top things to do before you're 10
1. Roll down a grassy hill
2. Make a mud pie
3. Make modelling dough
4. Collect frogspawn
5. Make perfume from petals
6. Grow cress on a windowsill
7. Make a home-made mask
8. Build a sandcastle
9. Climb a tree
10. Make a den in the garden
"It does seem a shame that nowadays, children are missing out on some of those simple pleasures."

At the same time, another study says children are not being allowed enough time to play, meaning they are missing out on learning about how to get on with people.

Doug Cole of the International Play Association said many kids do not have enough green spaces to play in and many did not have enough time for play because of out-of-school planned activities.

"Research in America has suggested that a lack of play can lead to more anti-social behaviour in later life and even more violence," he said.



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