Eugene Minogue’s Post

Harriet Grant's summary of the 'War on Play' came out the same day as the announcement of an International Day of Play by the United Nations General Assembly. "Children and their games, their scooters, their chalks and bouncing balls have vanished, replaced by speeding traffic and parked cars. And in losing doorstep play, children have lost the hours of exploration and physical activity that nature designed them to seek out in order to thrive. This, along with the slow erosion of time for play in schools and the austerity-driven closure of youth spaces, is profoundly changing childhood" . https://lnkd.in/eB-6fCan In Leeds, thanks to our local authority's commitment to being a child friendly city, we are taking play seriously. #PlaySufficiency research conducted with the excellent Ludicology has led to the appointment of a Play Strategy lead, and an elected member Cllr Fiona Venner 'Play Champion' and a great many of us care to be part of developing a play sufficiency action plan. Whilst it's great that our local authority are taking children's rights to play on their doorstep seriously, as Harriet points out, "campaigners are wanting to see a cross-departmental approach to consider children’s needs in every area of public life. This could be led by a cabinet level minister for children". What can we all do, a tiny amount of, or be instrumental in, giving children freedom to play, right where they live, have fun and fresh air?

‘Girls and boys, go out to play – it’s a pastime that’s in danger of dying out’ - The Guardian On Tuesday 11 June 2024 (International Day of Play), the Raising the Nation Commission on Play is launched, a year-long inquiry backed by Anne Longfield CBE’s Centre for Young Lives supported by 12 commissioners, who are experts in why play is vital for the social, physical and mental wellbeing of children, working in collaboration with young advisers. The commission will hold workshops, take evidence, visit innovatory projects and produce a set of recommendations, including a new national plan for play, in June 2025. The right of a child “to engage in play and recreational activity”, article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was ratified in the UK in 1991 but it has never been directly incorporated into domestic law. The commission will explore how it could be applied and the right of families to sue developers who build housing without adequate space for children to play – space that is much more than a fenced-off playground surrounded by “No Ball Games” notices. Paul Lindley OBE is the commission’s chair and the author of the thought-provoking Raising the Nation: How to Build a Better Future for Our Children. The book charts how the social contract for children has been hugely shredded referring to sadly familiar statistics – soaring mental health issues, obesity, poverty, and the contraction of child-friendly places, playgrounds, Sure Start and youth centres. He writes: “There seems to be a paradox in that play can mean everything but is defined as nothing of consequence.” This👆🏼is why Play England are calling on the next Government to introduce #PlaySufficiency legislation in England ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eKtJWuBg 🏫🚸🌿🍁🍂🪵 🚲 🛴 🛹🛼 🛝 🏃🏼♂️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏾👩🦽🚴🏿🚏🚶🏻🤸🏾♂️🤸🏼♂️🌳🏘️ #PlaySufficiency #FreePlay #Play #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #ActiveTravel #PlayStreet #SchoolStreets #StreetPlay #HomeZones #Playces #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #KnowBallGames #Parks #Playgrounds #UNCRC #Article31 #Splace

Time for our fifth call to action before July 4th. This one is for playful towns and cities. Many have long been banging their toy drum to this beat, and finally last November, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee launched an inquiry into Children, Young People and the Built Environment. It has been dissolved because of the election with no guarantee of being picked back up. Play is a serious matter, but the can has been kicked. The Times recently ran with the headline, “British children are world leaders in laziness” because by the age of 15, just 11 percent of girls and 16 percent of boys did an hour a day of moderate to vigorous activity. Later, they changed the headline to inactivity after a barrage of criticism pointing out it’s not lazy if you don’t have access or support. Fifty years ago, most children walked or cycled to school, down to 25 percent in 2022. Traffic also means it’s rare to see doorstep play - hopscotch has become a treat for temporary play streets, no longer part of our everyday. Over a third of children leaving primary school in England are overweight or obese. Cuts have hit youth services hard with two thirds of local authority-funded youth centres closing since 2010. The National Youth Agency report that late teens in particular are looking for “more jollity” and ways to meet up with friends. This need has escalated post pandemic. There’s an issue in state schools too. Latest research in Belgium is showing that access to green space reduces challenging behaviour and raises IQ, yet over 10,000 school playing fields have been sold off since the 1980s. So, our built environment is actually hardwiring life-changing problems into our future. But a place that works well for children and teenagers, works well for everyone. When the car is dethroned, neighbourhoods become safer and more welcoming, and can be made greener too. High streets which offer fresh things to do are livelier and more fun, as well as more useful. Playful places have adventure baked in, through every street and space. At any age, we love swing seats. Let’s consign to history the fenced-off lone pieces of play equipment. The right to play is set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We need to change the way we talk, think, plan, design, act, govern. And that change needs to start yesterday. #play #playfulstreets #healthystreets #healthyhospitalstreets #greeninfrastructure #greenspace #playontheway #design #bettertowns #bettercities #ldadesign

‘Senior councillors approve new play sufficiency priorities and appoint new Leeds Play Champion’ - Leeds City Council Leeds is the first city in England to commit to delivering an ‘Play Sufficiency’ action plan, designed to optimise play opportunities for children and young people across the entire city. The Leeds play sufficiency project is an ongoing process of research and action to assess, improve and protect children’s opportunities for play.  Extensive research has been conducted by the council, with over 50 hours spent listening to children, parent/carer and front-line worker focus groups, and almost 900 survey responses to help explore what is working for who, where and why at a neighbourhood and organisational level. This has led to the development of nine strategic play priorities for Leeds to help improve opportunities to play. Priorities include the creation of streets that are safe, welcoming and encourage children’s play, as well as improving access to nature-based play environments. A new cross council approach has also been pioneered, aiming to embed play sufficiency principles in the heart of decision making across the council, championing the rights of children and young people to access play. Full detail on the Council’s website ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-Yty25C #Play #FreePlay #PlaySufficiency #Playce #Splace #UNCRC #Article31 #KnowBallGames Hat 🎩 tip to Ludicology, Leeds City Council and Active Leeds

UN signals importance of play by adopting official International Day of Play on June 11th 2024! Global partners have successfully called on the United Nations to adopt an International Day of Play to champion and protect children’s right to play. Global research surveying more than 25,000 children across 36 countries reveals that as many as 73% of children don’t believe adults take play – and how it can help them learn – seriously. UNICEF estimates that 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning. Yet, even in their darkest moments, children can find their way back to hope, health and happiness through play. The adoption of a UN resolution for a day centered around play, takes children’s right one step further. It creates a unifying moment at global, national, and local levels to elevate the importance of play as central to children’s learning and wellbeing – ensuring time to play, space to play and support for quality play is prioritised. Please enjoy the short video and help raise awareness of children's right to play.

‘This is our street: How community-powered play creates health, happiness and connection’ - New Local The brainchild of frustrated parents, Playing Out has its roots in a single South Bristol street. Growing up in the seventies, friends Amy and Alice had fond memories of playing out after school. Fast forward to the late 2000s – they were raising children of their own but an increase in traffic meant the streets no longer feel safe. Fifteen years on, this small-scale parent-led action has evolved into a national movement supported by communities and councils across the country. This article covers the benefits of street play for local communities, growing support for the movement in local and central government, why residents should stay in the driving seat and the barriers standing in the way. “It’s not just for families with children. That’s a big thing. It’s for everyone. Older people can benefit from play streets too.” Play streets are a low cost, high impact initiative that boost wellbeing for children, parents, families and wider communities. A council’s role is to be the enabling force, it’s about clearing the way for residents. It doesn’t take a huge amount of work and it has enormous benefits. 🏫🚸🌿🍁🍂🪵 🚲 🛴 🛹🛼 🛝 🏃🏼♂️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏾👩🦽🚴🏿🚏🚶🏻🤸🏾♂️🤸🏼♂️🌳🏘️ #PlayStreet #SchoolStreets #StreetPlay #HomeZones #KnowBallGames #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #PlaySufficiency #FreePlay #Play #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #ActiveTravel #Playces #Splace #PublicRealm #UNCRC #Article31

Play more - it's not just for kids... Today launches the first ever International Day of Play that the UN have initiated. This is such an important day for all the Children around the world who are not getting to experience the most human of human attributes which is to Play. I applaud the UN for doing this... I also with my whole heart know Play is not just vital for kids.. it is vital for us all. If you read that and think- no not me, I'm too scared, adult, professional.. then it is even more important for you. Play connects us to freedom. Play enables us to be human, Play enables creativity, Play enables learning. Play is fun.. This is one of the many reasons I started Laugh. Think. Play. As I know and have witnessed what Play can do for us all... leaders. owners, founders.. it does not matter how you Play.. My research indicates adults Play in 12 ways.. it just matters that you do. So yes UN the kids must Play and have space and safety to Play.. but next year let's make it for us all. #playmatters https://lnkd.in/e-bMZ36K

Our planning system mentions lorries more often than children and newts and bats are better protected than play. The Government's priority is to get homes built but at what cost? "Children and their games, their scooters, their chalks and bouncing balls have vanished, replaced by speeding traffic and parked cars. And in losing doorstep play, children have lost the hours of exploration and physical activity that nature designed them to seek out in order to thrive. This, along with the slow erosion of time for play in schools and the austerity-driven closure of youth spaces, is profoundly changing childhood." When did we forget to listen to children? When did we forget to value their needs, and when did we decide that their development was less important than the convenience of driving a car? https://lnkd.in/dkPZfuCj

Today is the #InternationalDayofPlay and we see how valuable open play time is for children each day. This is a useful summary of the benefits of play, just in case you needed more convincing! How are you making more time in the school day for play? https://lnkd.in/g76NHXau #play #outdoorplay