PLAYING BY THE RULES

The importance of play in children and young people’s lives has been recognised by governments all around the world. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child grants more than 40 rights to children and young people, with the right to play being specifically named in Article 31.

Children have a right to play and an intrinsic need to play. Play supports selfdirected learning, creativity, enjoyment and freedom. It is the way children learn about the world and it contributes to wellbeing and resilience.

Play is a word we probably believe we understand; however, play within the context of education and learning can be a more complex concept than we realise. Play is behaviour that is enjoyable, freely chosen, has personal value, is process-oriented and intrinsically motivated.

Play is essential for children’s immediate and longer-term development.

It is one of the most important ways you can nurture your child’s development and learning. Children who are significantly denied experiences to play can suffer serious negative effects to their health and wellbeing.

The opportunities to play freely, particularly outdoors, is becoming more and more challenged, yet it is so crucial. And, often it is adults who are impacting children’s play. We often over-supervise or overprotect and determine where children can play. We typically determine how children are allowed to engage in particular activities and we regulate how long they can engage.

We control their use of time through highly scheduled extra-curricular activities, which impacts time for free play. We also

decide on the spaces where play can occur, and we often choose or deny what play materials are available.

As adults, we need to be mindful of our role and our impact. We need to take action to promote and protect play. Children and young people need to have time and space to personally direct their play.

There doesn’t need to be a set goal or any kind of incentive because play is child-led and meaningful just as it is.