But play for children is a vital part of their lives, say child specialists. It helps with their motor and cognitive skills and gives them the abilities to share and socialise. Games provide a tool for bonding, and also give a child the opportunity to have a sense of control over what decisions are made.

In Hong Kong, limited space for play areas and an emphasis on studies mean children are missing out on the advantages of play, according to local experts. Part of the reason for this is Chinese tradition, with its hard-work ethic. But there are several other factors of modern living that play a part too. It is an international problem, and one which various international and local child experts discussed at length at this year's International Play Association World Conference, which was hosted in Hong Kong in January.

The conference was organised by the Playright Children's Play Association in Hong Kong, whose chairman Chow Chun-bong, a paediatrician, warns that the opportunities for children to play in Hong Kong are decreasing.

'We need to look at our playgrounds and how they are being utilised,' he says. 'Most of the parks in Hong Kong were not built with children in mind. There's often nowhere for them to run around. The value of some of these play areas is very limited.

'For example, recently one of my colleagues was out with his child and they were blowing those bubbles that you can buy. And he was stopped by a guard at one park who said that the bubbles could damage the tarmac.'

Dr Chow says play is vital for developing children's motor skills and different parts of their brain. It teaches them how to share, make decisions, and be self-motivated. It enhances their decision-making skills and also fine motor skills, increasing the dexterity of their fingers.

'Part of the importance of play is that it is unscheduled, and unstructured,' he says. 'I have come across some preschoolers who are scheduled for 15 activities per week including ballet, singing, drawing and how to interview with principals of the prospective schools they may attend later. Children need to have the time to do whatever they want. They cannot excel in all of those 15 areas, so it is damaging to their self esteem.

'Play is very important for developing self esteem because it teaches children how to interact meaningfully with other children.'

In addition to developing a child's brain, play also relieves stress and anxiety. This could be emotional anxiety or the stress brought on by an intensive education system. Either way, says Kathy Wong Kin-ho, Playright's executive director, children need to play and run around, burn off energy and let the endorphins flow.

Doing acrobatics, playing with a ball, and gaining a sense of balance from a playground climbing frame are all ways in which to enhance a child's muscles, and their fine and gross motor skills. 'It is important that they take risks,' she says. 'It doesn't have to be dangerous.' Impromptu balancing and gymnastic activities in the playground develop children's large muscles and improve their balance.

But, says architect Wong Kam-sing, who also gave a speech at the conference, one of the critical issues is the quality of the design of play spaces for children in Hong Kong.

'I think all of us know that Hong Kong is very dense; space is an issue, and children need space to run around. Another more critical issue is that it is also a matter of the quality of the design for this kind of play space and environment. Many of the play areas in Hong Kong are not particularly interesting and not particularly inspiring. There is room for improvement.'

Sometimes play areas in private or public developments are not very accessible. In Tsim Sha Tsui, one play area is situated several floors up on a podium. It is unlikely that parents with pushchairs will bother to make the effort to get up there.

'The central waterfront would be a good area for parents and children to hang around,' says Mr Wong, who hopes that with the new designs planned for the harbour front, children are incorporated into the plan. Then there's the West Kowloon project, but both he and Kathy Wong say that while arts areas and museums have been discussed, there has been no word on children.

'At Victoria Park, children can only play in the playgrounds,' Mr Wong says. 'And areas are often blocked off at weekends for other events. What about an area such as Chater Road, which is made into a pedestrian area at the weekends and many helpers go there. As well as the helpers, it could also be an area providing activities for children.'

In fact, Playright has organised play activities in Central on more than one occasion. But the concern among planners and paediatricians is that new satellite towns in Hong Kong are lacking in child-friendly infrastructure. For example, Tin Shui Wai has recently been the centre of media attention with a spate of family murder-suicides, and the stress of a low-earning area far away from the main city and its facilities. Playright's play bus has already organised some play days in Tin Shui Wai and will be doing future projects there.

Dr Chow says different games also provide skills to children, but parents or other guardians need to check on how much time children are spending on any given game, particularly if these are video or computer games.

'The definition for play worldwide is that it is self-activated and also that children can enjoy themselves. The best sort of play is where a child can modify the rules where it is interactive, not just one way. If children have some toys, they can play by themselves or with other children. Basically, quality play is that the child, while playing, can have control - develop a sense of control, manipulate the rules.

'When you compare this with the video games, the game is controlling the child,' he says. While fine motor skills are being improved, the child is not learning to interact with others, and is not left making the decisions.'

Dr Chow says that play is also a way of keeping Chinese tradition and culture alive. Traditional games such as Chinese chess and others have had a resurgence of popularity, and are ensuring that children also have the fun of learning games played by generations before them.