Child’s play in the time of COVID: screen games are still ‘real’ play
Play is a core part of a healthy childhood, through which children develop social, communication, cognitive and physical skills.Read more
Sunshine Coast shows the way to create good design loved by communities
Our collective retreat to the safety of our homes during the COVID-19 lockdown has provoked an awakening to the value of local areas for work, play and connecting.Read more
Northern Ireland schools urged to ‘take outdoor play seriously’
Schools in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to promote the importance to children of playing and learning through outdoors activity.Read more
Child in the City webinar: Introducing…Tim Gill
One of the most damaging aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic for children has been the loss of one of the most basic things they take for granted – being able to play freely outside.Read more
Kids’ physical activity before the age of five matters so much because of the developing brain
In the current pandemic many parents of young children are finding themselves spending more time in the role of caregiver than usual. Keeping young children physically active and miminizing screen time while parents manage work...Read more
Guide to using play to support children with additional needs
The Northern Ireland-based Playboard charity has published a new guide that will help child professionals in using play to support children with additional needs.Read morePlay England webinar shares inspiring stories from play workers
Play England has produced a webinar and new practical guide to help organisations adopt a play-based approach as they slowly emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown.Read more
Campaigners ‘delighted’ at decision to reopen playgrounds
The Association of Play Industries (API) has welcomed the news that playgrounds in England are to reopen.Read more
‘Little evidence’ that outdoor play increases COVID-19 risk to children – report
Outdoor play campaigners say new evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on children’s health adds weight to calls to open up England’s playgrounds.Read more
I redesigned a school playground for my PhD – and the children got better marks learning outside
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the education of at least 1.5 billion school students. That’s more than 90 per cent of the world’s children. Although many schools in the west, along with private schools in...Read more
Neighbourhood-based kids’ friendships make a comeback
As the weather has warmed in my Midwestern town, my neighbourhood is full of children on bicycles pretending to be riding through the Wild West. I can’t walk down the sidewalk without stepping on chalk...Read more
Government ‘must set out timetable for reopening playgrounds’
Outdoor play campaigners in the UK have written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to set out when and how public playgrounds will be reopened.Read more
Play ‘completely overlooked’ in UK lockdown exit strategy
Where is play in the UK lockdown relaxation strategy? That’s the question from the Association of Play Industries (API) following publication of the government’s ‘roadmap’ to recovery.Read more
Scotland’s outdoor play initiative has lessons for the rest of the world
As Scotland considers the eventual re-opening of schools and non-emergency child-care facilities as the threat of coronavirus recedes, early childhood advocates are eagerly anticipating a now-delayed rollout of an important social policy experiment.Read more