For information on possible funding for play areas, see the section on funding.
For information on playground safety inspections, inspection and maintenance training, disability and play value audits, whole park safety inspections and natural play facilities, go to www.playsafety.ie
Forthcoming Events:
Information for Election candidates:
CHILDREN’S PLAY
YOUR AGENDA
Play is vitally important for the healthy development of all children and young people.
There are 864,449 children from 0 – 14 in Ireland. If you count young people to 19 years of age, for whom play is also important, that figure rises to 1,154,706. Play is seriously on their agendas and that of their parents – it needs to be on yours! Children‟s opportunities for free play have become restricted in recent years by planning, traffic, parental safety concerns and the level of structured activities.
You can support the development of quality play provision by making the following issues part of your campaign;
1. The development of new National Play Policy to focus attention and resources on providing better play opportunities.
2. The establishment of an information and resource centre to assist play providers in local authorities and in the community.
3. The introduction of national play safety guidelines to aid and reassure play providers on the balance between risk and play value.
4. Give your support to the development, maintenance and protection of playwork jobs, play environments and the creation of imaginative new initiatives.
Play is important to children and young people because; While playing children develop the social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional skills so important to become a healthy rounded adult. Through play children learn about the world, how it works, and their place in it. Play helps children make choices, and deal with the consequences, learn negotiation skills and learn to test themselves and deal with risk and challenge. Play supports good levels of concentration and creativity. The great variety and flexibility of children‟s play positively effects the development of the brain and the child‟s ability to learn.
Produced by the Play Alliance, who believe in and work for children‟s right to play as quoted in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Members include Sugradh, IPPA, various Local Authorities, Children in Hospital Ireland and individuals who support children‟s right to play.
You are welcome to join or call for advice or information. Play Alliance; playalliance@dublin.ie, Sugradh; www.playireland.ie, IPPA; www@ippa.ie, Children in Hospital Ireland; www.childreninhospital.ie, and Playtime; www.playtime.ie
Become a fan on Facebook – search for the fanpage „Let Children Play‟ and press „like‟ to keep in touch and have your say!
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Further information
What is Play?
Play is what children and young people do when they themselves decide what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
“Play is freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child.” Ready Steady Play! A National Play Policy (NCO 2004)
One in four children in Ireland are either overweight or obese, which may lead to health problems in later life. The Department of Health & Children and the Irish Heart Foundation recommend that: “Children should engage in an activity of moderate intensity for at least an hour every day.” Studies have highlighted the importance of active play in contributing to children‟s activity levels.
Therefore, to ensure children‟s well being it is crucial that in all places where children go we provide opportunities for a wide range of play activities.
What is a quality play environment? Any place that children enjoy playing in and want to return to time and time again. Ideally it‟s a place that has elements that can change or be transformed physically or by the child‟s imagination. It‟s a place where children can be with their friends and interact with other children. A place that will stimulate the senses with colour, music, texture, smells of various leaves or plants. A place that offers challenging activities like rough and tumble, running, climbing, and lots of physical activity. It could be a place that offers quieter more reflective activities like making things, imaginary play etc. A place where children feel safe and comfortable.
Play must be valued for its natural role in children‟s lives. Play provision must balance the need to keep children safe with the need to provide exciting and attractive opportunities for their physical and mental development.
Photos by Frode Svane and the Base Youth Project.
Put Children‟s Play on your agenda
50th Anniversary World Conference,
International Play Association.
4-7th July, 2011. Cardiff, Wales.
"Playing into the Future - surviving and thriving"
Contact Play Wales 00 44 29 2048 6050
www.ipa2011@playwales.org.uk
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