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Be Healthy
Play is crucial to health
and development throughout childhood, contributing to social, physical,
intellectual, cultural, emotional and psychological development. The physical
activity involved in energetic play provides children and young people with a
significant amount of their regular exercise. Research shows that school-aged
children and young people get more exercise in free play than from most
structured activities, excepting only P.E.1 Good play opportunities give children
and young people the chance to try out and
experience a range of emotions in a 'safe' way. It allows them to learn and
develop emotionally by promoting resilience and fostering self-esteem.2
Stay safe
One of the main reasons
children give for not playing outdoors more is that
they and their parents are afraid for their safety.
Fear of strangers, traffic and bullying by other
children combine to keep
children in their own homes. Good play provision
protects children through reducing unacceptable levels
of danger, while allowing them the opportunity
to challenge themselves and use their
initiative. At the same time, play enables
children to take risks, to think through decisions and
gain increased self-confidence and greater resilience.
Enjoy & Achieve
The essence of play is
enjoyment. When playing, children define their own
goals and interests, decide what is success or failure
and pursue those goals in their own way. Children’s
enjoyment through play is linked to the control
and choice they are able to exercise. Giving children
the chance for free, uninhibited play allows them a
psychologically safe space in which to try out new
roles and experiences and enhances their enjoyment of
life.
There are many developmental and experiential
advantages associated with children’s play – providing
children also with the opportunities for achievement
and enabling them to reach their full potential. These
include the development of problem-solving and
language and literacy skills as children and young
people develop their social skills and express their
emotions. Play is also seen as important in the
development of children’s imaginations and creative
interests and abilities.
Play allows children and young people to explore
boundaries, be fully absorbed in what they are doing
and feel satisfied with what they have achieved.
Make a positive
contribution
Children’s involvement in
the development of their own play is fundamental.
Children learn, from the way others and the
environment react to their play, the effects of
their actions and value others place on them. When
there are no adults present, children will create and
make their own choices. In good supervised play
provision, adults involve the children and young
people in decisions about resources and
facilities that might be available to them.
Local authorities and community groups are
increasingly involving children and young people in
local play audits and discussions about their play and
free-time needs. This results in more appropriate
provision, helps children and young people
develop their skills and knowledge and ensures they
are valued as active community members. Respecting and
incorporating children and young people’s views
into plans and provision helps develop motivation and,
potentially, participation in
society.3
Achieve economic
well-being
Good play provision
enables parents to work or train and allows them to
feel their children are happy, safe and enjoying
themselves. Offering parents the opportunity to
have time away from their children can also be an
important benefit of play provision. Play provision
often acts as a focal point for parents and carers to
meet, giving them an opportunity to socialise
with other adults.
The creative and social skills that children develop
through play help them to develop the lateral thinking
and emotional intelligence that are becoming
increasingly important in a globalised,
non-hierarchical economy.
Good play provision promotes community well-being and
security. It brings economic benefits through jobs and
training, and parents can feel confident their
children occupied and enjoying themselves. Good
play provision, which offers those seeking it
genuine challenge and excitement, help prevent bored
children and young people behaving in ways that are
socially unacceptable. Development of outside
and recreation spaces has been shown have a
measurable impact on local interaction, new
friendships, community cohesion and community safety.4
Reference
1 Mackett
R (2004) Making children’s lives more active, London:
University College London.
2
Cole-Hamilton I and
Gill T (2002) Making the case for play – building
policies and strategies for school aged
children, London: National Children’s Bureau.
3
DfT (2005) Attitudes
to streetscape and street uses, London: Department for
Transport.
4
NEF (2001) Prove it:
measuring impacts of renewalLondon: New Economics Foundation.
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