New campaign calls for a 'summer of play'.
An ad hoc coalition of children’s advocates, led by Save the Children, Play England, Playing Out and Professor Helen Dodd, is today calling on the country to get behind a campaign to give children a great ‘Summer of Play’ as they emerge from the coronavirus restrictions.
A statement by the Summer of Play coordinating group said:
For more than a year, children across the UK have been forced to spend time indoors, inactive and isolated from friends due to Covid-19 restrictions. It is not surprising that we have seen unprecedented increases in children’s mental health problems and loneliness, alongside reduced physical activity.
In response, child psychologists, paediatricians and educators have independently and urgently called for play to be central to children’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and many others agree. Together we now are calling for everyone to help make this summer a #SummerOfPlay for children across the UK.
Play is vital to children’s physical and mental health and development, and it happens when children and young people follow their own ideas and interests, in their own way, and for their own reasons. During childhood and adolescence, social and emotional skills develop rapidly. This development relies on children interacting and playing with their peers and being exposed to broad and diverse experiences. Play provides opportunities for social interaction and physical activity and can reduce children’s stress and promote wellbeing.
Children are experts in play and can play almost anywhere and with anything when they are given the freedom and permission to do so. As restrictions are eased, it is vital that children are given the time and safe space they need to reconnect and play with each other and to enjoy a wide range of playful activities, so they can start to recover and heal.
Everyone has a role to play in making this possible. Every setting counts: parks, streets, schools, summer schools, playgrounds, public space and more. Together we can make this a positive legacy of lockdown for children, after all they have sacrificed to keep others safe. Let’s begin to restore their freedom with a #SummerOfPlay
#summer of play
The Summer of Play Pledge
To join the #SummerOfPlay campaign, please take the pledge to enable all children, without prejudice, to have space and time for play this summer by supporting:
1. Fun - We will support children to have fun and express themselves through play.
2. Friends - We will support children to have opportunities to play with friends and peers.
3. Freedom - We will support children to have space, time, and opportunities for free play.
We want a #SummerOfPlay for all children but we particularly encourage organisations to think about how they can support children who are disadvantaged or who have been adversely affected by Covid-19.
GET INVOLVED
To find out more and to pledge your support for the Summer of Play visit:
summerofplay.co.uk
