Giving children in temporary housing a chance to play
Play opportunities for children in temporary accommodation could be maximised – and ‘cities made more joyful ‘ if youngsters themselves are given a say in how decisions are made.Read more
Play Wales paper examines the role of play in society
Play Wales, the national body for play, has published a new paper highlighting some of its latest research findings into the role of play in society.Read more
Introducing the winners of the Real Play City Challenge 2022
A host of diverse child-friendly projects have been unveiled as this year’s winners of a global competition dedicated to ‘reclaiming places to play in cities’. The Real Play City Challenge was launched in 2020 by the...Read more
The dream of the future playground
Denser cities and fewer green areas. What is left for the children when the cityscape changes? That is an important element in the architecture education at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, but also the...Read more
Social skills suffered during COVID but children in Northern Ireland are more resilient – report
Research into the impact of COVID on early-years classroom play in Northern Ireland points to a significant negative impact on children’s social skills and level of independence, but at the same time they have become...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
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
From obesity to allergies, outdoor play is the best medicine for children
What if there was a simple, inexpensive and fun way to address some of the major challenges facing humanity today. What if it could help improve children’s health, development and well-being? Imagine a solution that...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
Let them play! Kids need freedom from play restrictions to develop
You may have heard of play. It’s that thing children do – the diverse range of unstructured, spontaneous activities and behaviours. Children play in many ways, including by exploring movements, constructing with equipment, creating games,...Read more
An alternative to the traditional playground in Chicago
Jessica Fong experienced her lightbulb moment one day when she was taking her Spry Elementary School preschool students to play at a nature park near the Little Village school. The park, which is called Jardincito,...Read more
Musical instruments help improve children’s core stability
With a lot of focus on children being academically ready for school, going back to basics and helping a child to be physically ready is a step that many schools, preschools, and other childcare settings...Read more
Shaped by play and inclusive play
Play has an invaluable role in encouraging child development. But play isn’t just one thing. It’s an invitation to explore, learn and grow. Play opens up a world of possibilities. Play—on a playground, in a soccer...Read more
From playground risks to college admissions: Failure helps build kids’ resilience
With recent news of the college cheating scandal in which parents allegedly paid for their children to gain entrance to the most prestigious post-secondary institutions in the United States, increased attention has been placed on...Read more