‘Give children the chance to play’ – national UK play organisations join forces to demand action

‘Playday’ in the UK – held on 7 August – was an opportunity for the four national play organisations to urge policymakers to deliver on a child’s right to play.

As thousands of children and young people came together to celebrate play at local and regional events, the four leading play organisations said that the formation a new UK government provides is a ‘timely opportunity to highlight the need for a renewed commitment to play at all levels across society’.

The theme of 2024’s Playday which is traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August, was focused on play as the culture of childhood, and being at the core of children’s lives, and vital for health, happiness, and creativity. i

But in a joint call, Play Wales, Playboard NI, Play Scotland and Play England, said that despite there being robust evidence highlighting the multiple benefits of play, it is an issue that governments have ‘consistently overlooked’.

‘Urgent action’, they added, was now required in order to ensure that children and young people able to fully realise their right to play.

‘Urgent action’

Alan Herron, Chief Executive Officer at PlayBoard NI, said:“Playday provides an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the importance of play in children’s lives. In Northern Ireland, in line with the latest review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, we are advocating for the development of a resourced play strategy alongside targeted action to enhance play across the community.

“As we celebrate Playday with colleagues across the UK, we will continue working with our local political parties to champion the role of play for children and young people’s health and happiness, and to ensure delivery of improved play opportunities for all.”

Mike Greenaway, Director of Play Wales, said: “We need to give children more opportunities to play – not just on Playday, but every day of the year. Playing is children’s culture, it’s not a luxury, it’s how they develop relationships, express their creativity, learn about their place in the environment and community.

“Often, it’s when they are playing, having the freedom to explore at home and experience everyday adventures with friends and family that bring children the most joy and happiness. Join us today and throughout the school holidays and beyond to give children freedom to play.”

Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive Officer, Play Scotland, said: “Playday provides a wonderful opportunity for children, families and communities to plan to play together. Scotland is well on its way to becoming a play-friendly country with play at the heart of our culture of childhood, and we all have a responsibility to make sure that every child gets to play, everyday!”

‘Best childhood memories’

Eugene Minogue, Executive Director at Play England, added: “Playday provides us with an important and timely reminder of the cultural value of play! Ask adults what they loved most about being a kid, and their mind is likely to drift back to the games they played with other children. Some of the best childhood memories are rooted in long summer days playing games outside, many culturally unique to the UK – such as kerby, headers and volleys, hopscotch, bulldog, skipping and many more!

“However, children today are experiencing many barriers to play. As their freedom and opportunities to play have declined, so has their physical and mental health as a result. It is therefore vitally important that the new government urgently address the decline in children’s play over recent decades. We need to give children their childhood back! That’s why we are calling for the introduction of play sufficiency legislation and development of a new national play strategy in England.”

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