See also...

“Play is the only way

the highest intelligence
of humankind can unfold.”
  Joseph Chilton Pearce

Do you remember ...

... the cardboard box that was a spaceship ...
or a castle ... or a pirate ship?
... the delight and terror when you climbed
to the top of the tree?
... when you fell out with your friend,
but an hour later you were best friends again?

Playing is magic for all ages - it excites, inspires and develops, it challenges, surprises and nourishes, it rewards, raises confidence and above all, it's fun and it feels good. Play is "children and young people following their own ideas and interests in their own way and for their own reasons" (Oxfordshire Play Strategy - see 'Resources' page). Play is also described as "freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child" (Best Play - What Play Provision Can Do for Children - again, see 'Resources'). Intrinsically motivated means that the child has decided to do it for their own reasons, and not for any external reason such as a reward. The developmental and therapeutic benefits of play have long been recognised, but recently the government has taken the step of publishing the UK's first National Play Strategy (download available in the 'Resources' page), showing the urgency of the need for children and young people of all ages to play more - for their wellbeing, mental health and happiness as well as for their physical health.

Since the 1950s, young people have had fewer chances to play outside than many of the previous generations. This is due to factors such as:increase in traffic and the associated dangersincrease in parents' worry about 'stranger danger', fuelled in part by the mediaincrease in number of hours spent watching TV and using computersincrease in the amount of homework that children are expected to dodecrease in the number of areas of rough land, especially in urban areas.

As a result, much of the only 'freely chosen' play opportunities that children get can be in childcare spaces. These supervised places include after school clubs, breakfast clubs, holiday playschemes, adventure playgrounds, playbuses and play rangers. People who work in the play settings (playworkers) try to ensure that children and young people have opportunities for play that are as near to 'natural' play environments as possible. The Playwork Principles are a set of guidelines which underpin all playwork jobs (see the Playwork Principles page).

Much work is being done across Oxfordshire (and across the UK) to ensure that children and young people have outdoor places to play which are exciting, thrilling and fun, and where children have a sense of ownership and control over their play and their play space. For more information about improving our outdoor play spaces, go to the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association website here, or the Oxfordshire County Council website for information about the Play Pathfinder and Playbuilder grants: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk and search for 'Play Pathfinder'.

If children and young people are to become more 'free range' and play outdoors without so much adult supervision (and enjoy the benefits such as increased feeling of wellbeing, better physical health and more chances to relax and socialise with friends), it is imperative that parents are encouraged to understand the benefits of play - and ideally to play more with their children, take them outdoors, let them range and roam more, understand the need for young people to have some elements of risk and adult-free time in their play and leisure.

Work is ongoing with schools, to increase understanding of the importance of play within learning and development. In addition, planners, the police, councils, health departments and other key partners recognise the vital part that play plays in a child's life, and are starting to work together more to increase our children and young people's opportunities for free play.