Children ‘benefit from mixed-age play’
A generation ago, play was something most parents thought about. On a nice day, parents would send kids out into the neighbourhood in the morning, telling them to be back for dinner. That’s rare these...Read more
Exhibition celebrates the history of playgrounds
The historical development of children’s urban playgrounds forms a central part of a fascinating new exhibition in London. Play Well is highlighting the work of – among others – Friedrich Fröbel, the German inventor of the...Read more
Children’s Commissioner’s concern over kids’ online gaming habits
The Children’s Commissioner for England wants tighter rules to protect children who game online and can spend hundreds of pounds on so-called ‘rewards’. Anna Longfield has published a report, Gaming the system’ , which looks at...Read more
Show kids how to play in a healthy Amsterdam
A new online book shows how ‘healthy play’ in Amsterdam can shape the futures of children growing up and playing in the city. Spelen In De Stad / Playing in the City is designed to show...Read more
Filmmaker documents youngsters’ city lives
The lives of toddlers in two contrasting cities on opposite sides of the world are chronicled in videos from the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF), which works to improve disadvantaged children’s lives. Five short films highlight...Read more
So much more than just a skatepark
It’s the first ever skatepark built in Syria but, if you ask the kids, it might just be the most important skatepark in the world. After living through years of conflict, children in the Syrian city...Read more
Children who have afternoon breaks are fitter but need a supportive environment
Afternoon breaks were once a common feature of nearly all primary school timetables. But, as schools have sought to dedicate more time to teaching and learning, and limit poor behaviour, these short play times have...Read more
Providing Nairobi’s mothers with subsidised day care will benefit everyone
One of the major challenges that faces mothers who work is how to ensure their children are properly cared for while they are away. This is particularly true for women in low-income settings. For instance, in...Read more
Shared learning is aim of Bernard van Leer Foundation’s new early years studies
The Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF), which works to improve opportunities for disadvantaged children, has published the first in a series of case studies examining global early years initiatives. Three initial reports, which look at projects...Read more
Decline of public playgrounds ‘pushing children indoors’
Parents are increasingly concerned that a decline in outdoor playgrounds is pushing more children indoors to indulge in screen time, say play campaigners. A survey reveals that the vast majority of parents believe that playgrounds, which...Read more
Risk is an essential ingredient in children’s play
Play without risk is like a hotdog without mustard. It’s better than nothing but so much tastier when the two are together. Play without risk still has some value, but it quickly becomes rather boring....Read more
Difference between playgrounds and natural play spaces for school
There is not much a difference between playgrounds and play spaces. Rather one must develop an eye for precision in order to depict the differences between the two. A playground is a place especially designed...Read more
How play is changing our relationship with inclusion
Every person has some relationship to inclusion, and there are as many definitions of the concept as there are ways in which to provide it. Your organization may have extensive diversity and inclusion policies in...Read more
Forest schools: how climbing trees and making dens can help children develop resilience
Despite all the research that tells parents how good it is for their children to spend time playing outside, they are spending more time indoors than ever before. It seems that concerns about the dangers...Read more