Parents’ views on playgrounds: “They are the only thing keeping us sane”
“The news that playgrounds are to be kept open during this, our third full lockdown, has been met with huge relief. It appears the Government agrees with us and others that the risks posed to...Read more
Using play to ‘school’ children’s emotions
Being socially and emotionally competent from an early age is likely to help children win acceptance by their peers, build better relationships with teachers, and facilitate academic learning.Read more
How to find a place for kids to play in the pandemic
Can parents and educators support opportunities for children to play, when so many of their activities are restricted by COVID-19?. That’s the question posed by Elizabeth Cushing, the president of Playworks, a US non-profit children’s...Read more
Forest-based children’s play yards can quickly boost their immune systems
Replacing gravel and stones in children’s outdoor play areas with ‘a mini forest’ can significantly help to boost youngsters’ immune systems.Read more
Playing for participation
If there is one industry that has grown during COVID lockdowns, it’s the gaming industry. Sales, downloads and viewership have blossomed worldwide. But the rise of competitive gaming hasn’t happened overnight.Read more
Football and dementia: heading must be banned until the age of 18
Alarm bells are ringing in sport about the risk of a group of chronic, neuro-degenerative diseases, commonly understood as dementia. There is an increasingly large body of evidence which has identified that small, repetitive collisions...Read more
COVID’s impact on kids’ health & play habits in Northern Ireland
Play campaigners in Northern Ireland have spoken out on the dramatic impact that the COVID-19 lockdowns have had on the health, well-being and play habits of childrenRead more
Hackney asks: how can we become a ‘child-friendly borough’?
One of London’s most densely-populated boroughs is asking residents how it can best incorporate a set of child-friendly principles into its future development.Read more
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 moreNorthern 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
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