Play is a serious business and a lack of play opportunities for children is becoming a form of deprivation, according to play experts and national organizations. According to BBC news article “All too often the subject of play has been trivialised, consigned to local newspaper pictures of bouncy castles and ‘gappy toothed children with their happy faces painted like clowns’ says Penny Wilson of the Play Association Tower Hamlets. ‘ This has nothing to do with what play is about. Play is an instinctive and essential part of childhood which is becoming more and more under pressure, with evidence that a lack of spontaneous play leaves a long term legacy. Play allows children to work out their emotions. When you’re playing you’re finding out who you are. Play isn’t about fun. Even with very small children, you can see there is a symbolism to their play, there is a meaning to it.”
Play is vital to the development of good physical and mental health as well as learning. It is through play that children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their relationship with them, elaborating all the while a flexible range of responses to the challenges they encounter. Children are getting lesser opportunities to play as more and more structured ‘educational’ activities takes its place. Play deprivation is now recognised as a real issue. The National ‘Playwork Principals’ states “All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate. Play is biological, psychological and a social necessity, and is fundamental to the healthy development and well being of individuals and communities. Play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas and interests in their own way and for their own.”
Play can be provided by a host of different environments not just play areas. Play can also be provided within breakfast, after school and holiday clubs, in the home, garden, beach, woods, parks, countryside, etc. It is essential that we provide a wide variety of play opportunities for our children. Out of school clubs employ qualified and experienced playworkers who have a good understanding of natural play. It is equally important to recognize that play is not necessary provided in structured activities such as sports clubs, drama clubs, etc. although the activities provided in these clubs also have a value. Providing play is not an expensive challenging exercise. There are a number of free and easily accessible opportunities for play e.g. playing outside or indoors maybe in a bedroom, on the stairs or even in a cupboard! Play equipment is best when it is free and easily accessible e.g. stones, wood, things you have in the home like sheets, pillows (for a pillow fight maybe) boxes, etc.
It is also important to recognize the risks involved in play and the fact that it is an important part of positive child development, that minor accidents are a part of play and a necessity for children to learn their own capabilities and develop their skills. No- one has learned to ride a bike without falling off! This is an acceptable danger as the benefit far out weighs the risks. In this climate of Health and safety anxieties it amazes us that people still let their children learn to swim! A very dangerous activity, but here, again the benefit far out weighs the risks.
Bibliography: http://www.club4kids.org/
