Playing outdoors: What do children do, where and with whom?
There is an increasing interest in outdoor play, both in research and in policy. However, in (re)designing, planning and managing the public space, there is still limited attention for children’s actual playing behaviour.Read more
Philadelphia families rejoice at school’s new playground amid fears for children’s safety
When Duane Watts was a student at Edward Steel Elementary School in Philadelphia’s Nicetown neighbourhood more than 40 years ago, he remembers running excitedly out of his classroom for recess and being confronted with concrete.Read more
‘Playing Out’ movement goes from strength to strength
The ‘Playing Out’ movement which sees communities closing their streets to traffic and is continuing to grow has scheduled another online forum for professionals.Read more
Assessing the future of ‘sustainable’ adventure playgrounds in England
Creating a formal ‘network’ of outdoor adventure playgrounds would help them feel less isolated and more likely to become sustainable in the long run.Read moreKing’s coronation is inspiring more UK Play Streets
This year’s coronation of King Charles III is inspiring one London borough to expand its successful ‘Play Streets’ programme in time for children to celebrate the day in safe surroundings.Read more
Are children’s play opportunities across UK nations a ‘postcode lottery’?
Is something simple as their address the reason why children in Northern Ireland are not getting the same opportunities for play as their peers across the UK? The ‘postcode lottery’ question comes on the back of...Read more
Outdoor play in Canada ‘should continue beyond the COVID pandemic’
An important incidental change that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic has been our collective rediscovery of the outdoors. As we begin building back better, we have an opportunity to leverage this re-engagement to enhance our...Read more
Dozens of neglected NYC playgrounds ‘will be revamped’ – Mayor
The Mayor of New York City has set out an extensive plan for revamping dozens of long-neglected closed and dilapitated playgrounds. Bill Blasio said that many planned repairs and new projects had been delayed because of...Read more
Why the outdoors should be an integral part of every early learning and childcare programme
Bilateral negotiations are underway to move the historic federal commitment to a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system from vision to reality. Expanding access for all young children in Canada will require creating and licensing...Read more
Outdoor playgrounds ‘are the number one place to play’
Free, public playgrounds are the most popular places for children to play in the UK, according to a new survey. In the largest study of play in Britain, the University of Reading found that children...Read more
How can future generations learn from children’s experiences of play during COVID?
The Play Observatory is a new UK-based project collecting children’s diverse experiences of play during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will use them to create a permanent record that future generations can learn from and help...Read more
Rewild your kids: why playing outside should be a post-pandemic priority
As nurseries and schools begin to reopen, there is much concern about the impact of this very difficult year on children. One aspect of normal childhood which many have missed out on in the last...Read more‘Safe Play Lanes’ for Cardiff’s UNICEF child-friendly city goal
Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, is piloting a new initiative to transform lanes and alleyways into child-friendly green spaces that are safe and fun.Read more
#PlayMustStay – invest in public play spaces or children face ‘perpetual lockdown’
Play industry leaders in the United Kingdom say that without sustained national investment in public play places, children face ‘perpetual lockdown’.Read more