Play Scotland calls on communities to champion more spaces for play
Hundreds of children, young people, and families across the UK came together to celebrate Playday on Wednesday 5th August, after Play Scotland called for more inclusive and welcoming spaces for play.
As this year’s theme calls for the creation of play opportunities here, there, and everywhere, celebrations outdoors and in streets ramped up as children engaged in imaginative, risky, creative, exploratory play, among others.
From loose parts, to mud pies, to den-building, it serves as a reminder that quality play doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Children must be given the time, freedom and space to play, and that’s what Play Scotland is working to deliver as they develop their five-year strategy, launching in late October.
Play Scotland partnered with Aberlour Children’s Charity to host a free play event in Aberdeen, and took part in delivering a day of play at Brodie Castle and Estate in Moray.
Lorna Leil, events coordinator at Brodie Castle says: “I know how important play is for children’s learning and development. With the space that we have Brodie Castle just lends itself to this.
“We have a focus on play anyway with our Playful Garden and the castle playground. Playday is a chance to expand on this, to work with local people – businesses, families and communities – and provide even more opportunities for playful learning.
“Since developing our connection with Play Scotland and Playday we have a wider platform to promote and highlight the importance of play for all and access to play spaces and play opportunities for all children and families.”
As a fantastic example of engaging children in more simple outdoor play, Leeds City Council helped deliver street play to local children on Playday, temporarily closing roads so that children could have a chance to feel safe playing outside their houses.
Speaking on BBC Scotland about street play, Mary Ramsay, Play Scotland CEO said: “There is a big commitment from Scottish Government to support children playing outdoors, but what we’re seeing up here (Scotland) is, parents are understandably wary with reports that we’re seeing on social media about things happening, there’s been a big increase in cars and vehicles, and we’ve seen a reluctance sometimes from children engaging on screens.
“We don’t want to demonise screens, they obviously have a place, but we have seen sometimes that children are more indoors, there’s also weather challenges, so although there has been a lot of work within Scotland, and we have the legislative framework and a lot of guidance that supports that, we’re still getting reports that children aren’t getting enough time outdoors, and that parents are understandably wary of engaging in it.”
A variety of quality play opportunities is essential for the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
It builds confidence, creativity, social skills and resilience. It has a significant role in developing language, emotional regulation, and even in developing the 5 senses. Playday is an opportunity to celebrate this, and Play Scotland is working to raise awareness, and encourage communities to create more opportunities for children to play freely.
Among the smiles, laughter, and screams, another important activity in developing quality play opportunities was the discussion of the Play Park Survey, an online form to generate feedback from locals across Scotland on the developments they’ve noticed in their local play parks since the rollout of the Play Park Renewal fund between 2021-2026.
Play Scotland is calling for as much feedback as possible to inform future opportunities. The link can be found on Play Scotland’s website.
