Robinson Island – a very special playground
During the Child in the City World Conference in Vienna, there were a number of interesting field trips to child-friendly places across the city. In this article, Simon Walter who was the tour guide recounts...Read more
Playable cities: a model and a toolkit
We need a new approach to public spaces if we really want to stimulate outdoor play for kids. This approach doesn’t start with picking some elements from catalogues of play equipment companies. We should start...Read more
Why playtime is an essential part of childhood development
Children’s lives are overscheduled now more than ever before and all those activities are taking a bite out of their free playtime. By shortchanging playtime, children miss out on emotional, social, physical, and cognitive benefits. In some...Read more
The introvert playground
An educational art and design-initiative named ‘A secret club’ builds playgrounds that keep the introvert in mind. The goal is to pique the user’s imagination. Because if play takes place inside your head, everything is a...Read more
Manifesto for a playful city
‘Seventy per cent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by the middle of this century’ (Klanten and Hubner, 2010:2). As cities continue to get more populated, more and more strain will...Read more
Scotland ‘gets it right’ for children
“Access to play is not equally distributed in Scotland” (McKendrick, 2016). As Chief Executive of Play Scotland, Marguerite Hunter Blair would be anyone’s first choice to share the expansive work it is doing to support...Read more
A history of play provision in the UK
Raymond Wills entered play work as a Community Service Volunteer in the early 1960s. Throughout his time in play work, he was an active member of numerous play bodies, Play Councils, regional play associations and national...Read more
A happier childhood: Ahmedabad initiative is reuniting kids with playgrounds
Gadgets and indoor play have resulted in the child of today missing out on the joys of nature and outdoor life experienced by previous generations, says Indian educationalist and aProCh founder Kiran Bir Sethi. aProCh (a...Read more
Building free and accessible playgrounds in Brazil
By donating free and accessible playgrounds, the Brazil-based ALPAPATO Project is creating valuable opportunities for children – both with and without disabilities – to connect through play. Julia Zvobgo, Community Manager of Child in the...Read more
A bicycle playground for Vienna
How can we foster the autonomous mobility and cycling skills of children living in the city and promote physical activity? How can we facilitate a safe but exciting approach to cycling for urban kids? Cycling will...Read more
Changing perceptions, transforming play
The neighbourhood playground is an environment where families create community. But for decades, an entire group was missing from these vital hubs: caregivers and children with disabilities, who make up 19% of the US population. Two...Read more
Imagine and explore through ‘playful’ learning
A ‘playful’ approach to learning can hugely benefit children, but the system must give teachers the freedom to create the right environment. Making the case is Nicola Whitton, Professor of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University,...Read more
A guide to encourage outdoor play during school hours
The International School Grounds Alliance and Green Schoolyards America recently published a new, expanded version of their Activity Guides set. This free online resource is designed to engage children aged 3-18 in using their school...Read more
Outdoor play for Dutch children declines
‘Dull play areas’ are the reason why two-thirds of Dutch children never play outside or only once a week, according to research. This alarming trend equates to a 10 per cent rise in the last...Read more