Download PDF - Fair Play For Children

Introduction
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One of the principles underpinning the Children’s Plan is that children and young people
need to enjoy their childhood as well as grow up prepared for adult life. Play is something that
children truly enjoy, and which their parents want to see their children enjoy. Government’s
ambition is that all children should enjoy playing in safe environments and live in communities
where play is welcomed.
We use ‘play’ in this document to describe what children and young people do when they
follow their own ideas and interests in their own way and for their own reasons, balancing
fun with a sense of respect for themselves and others. These proposals are meant to improve
outdoor play – to children this means things like going to the park, playing in cul-de-sacs, riding
bikes, and looking for buried treasure 6 .
Government values play for its own sake, as a vital ingredient in a happy childhood, which
is reflected in Article 31 of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child. We
increasingly understand the proven benefits that play brings in terms of a healthy childhood
and the acquisition of some of the key skills that children and young people need as they
become adults and progress in education or into work.
Play is not only a vital part of the way children enjoy their childhood, but it is central to all the
Every Child Matters 7 outcomes. Play is essential for children’s good physical and mental health
and development. Through taking risks whilst playing they also learn how to manage risk –
helping them to stay safe. Play develops learning skills, central to achievement.
Yet there is evidence that opportunities for play – particularly child-led, outdoor play – are
falling. Concerns about safety, the loss of open green space, the poor quality and inaccessibility
of many existing play areas, including for disabled children, and the increasingly structured use
of children’s spare time are all barriers to children engaging in more outdoor play.
6. One of the main messages fed back through the Time to Talk 8 consultation with children and
parents on the Children’s Plan was that there are not enough safe, challenging, stimulating
places for children and young people to go, that children’s needs are often ignored in public
6 Plain English Research on Play, Sherbert Research for DCSF and COI, 2008.
7 See www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/
8 See www.dcsf.gov.uk/timetotalk
6 Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy