France to ban children from using mobile phones in schools
France’s Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer has announced the prohibition of mobile phones during school hours. This ban will begin September 2018. “These days the children don’t play at break time anymore, they are just...Read more
Are smart phones really the death of children’s play?
Many of the current conversations on children’s use of mobile phones sound dire warnings, even foretelling the ‘death of childhood’ itself. However, argues playworker and geographer Chris Martin, different standpoints can contribute alternative, more complex perspectives,...Read more
Why are Dutch children the world’s happiest?
Following UNICEF’s (2013) report of children’s wellbeing indicators for the world’s richest nations placed the Netherlands at the top of the list, a new book by two immigrant mothers explores what it is about growing...Read more
Belfast makes participation the key to creating child friendly public space
In Northern Ireland, children’s needs are not always considered in decision making in relation to the physical environment. In Belfast, the city centre could significantly benefit from more child friendly space, where children are welcome...Read more
New research shows prisoners spend more time outdoors than UK children
According to a new survey, funded by laundry detergent Persil, children spend less time outdoors than high-security prisoners. The Unilever detergent company wanted to bring this issue to life and to start a global conversation about...Read more
Loose parts play is highly engaging for children
“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.” Simon Nicholson, 1972, p. 5. When community activities attempt to...Read more
Lego focuses in on children at play
Lucy Ward, from The Guardian, interviewed Hanne Rasmussen, head of the Lego Foundation, on how the company will focus on the value of play and how it has built enormously over the last decade. According...Read more