Fun and games at Street Feast celebrations
COUNTYCOUNCILANDSPORTS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING PLAY PACKS TO ORGANISERS
WICKLOW County Council and the Wicklow Local Sports Partnership are again lending their support to the Street Feast movement as part of National Play Day.
Last year, the council and the sports partnership came together and got behind Street Feast, as they aimed to promote play and encourage communities to organise energetic and fun play activities in neighbourhoods across the county.
Ten groups took part in 2017, with over 250 children getting active in their community. These groups were encouraged to keep their play equipment, so they could continue to host active play sessions on a regular basis.
Street Feast is back again this year and any group hosting an event is invited to collect a bag of play equipment worth €50 to encourage fun and active play within their community.
‘No time is spent better than helping your community to become a better place. Your community was born to play,’ Denise O’Shea, the Sports Development Officer from Wicklow Local Sports Partnership. ‘Having the freedom to step outside your own front door and kick a ball around, skip or play a game of tag is nothing new. But most kids now have far less freedom to play outside than their parents or grandparents did. And although the world may have changed for today’s kids, their need for play has not.’
Ms O’Shea pointed out that the act of play allows children to use their creativity while developing imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. As more and more studies shed light on this fundamental element to healthy childhood development, she hopes we will all find ways to make our communities more child- and play-friendly.
Street Feast is a day of local lunches across Ireland hosted by local communities and neighbours. Events can be anywhere - out on the street, in a local park or in a front garden. The play element for children is incorporated into Street Feast.
To get involved contact wicklowlsp@wicklowcoco.ie.