Play is so integral to childhood development that a child’s right “to engage in play and recreational activities” is outlined in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child2, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world- even being accepted by non-state entities.

1. The Importance of Play
“All children and young people need toplay. The impulse to play
is innate. Play is a biological, psychological and social
necessity, and is fundamental to the healthy development and
well being of individuals and communities.” (Playwork Principles
Scrutiny Group 2005)1
Play is so integral to childhood development that a child’s right “to engage in play
and recreational activities” is outlined in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child2, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world-
even being accepted by non-state entities.
A 2007 UNICEF report on the wellbeing of children around the world found that the
UK ranked at the bottom of the world’s 21 richest countries. Young people in the UK
were found to be among the “unhappiest, unhealthiest, poorest and least educated in
the developed world”. The well-being of children is often measured objectively,
looking at the social and economic factors affecting the lives of children. However,
recently there has been a shift which acknowledges that the subjective views of
children themselves should be taken into consideration.
Children often state that having fun and spending time with friends and family and
having lots of stimulating things to do are fundamental to their well-being. In a study
conducted by Dr Agnes Nairn and IPSOS MORI, the UK was compared to Sweden
and Spain and found that children in the UK had fewer opportunities for fun outdoor
activities.3
“It is widely understood that play is crucial to children’s healthy
development and quality of life.” (Foley, 2008)4
1 http://www.playwales.org.uk/eng/playworkprinciples
2 https://downloads.unicef.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2010/05/UNCRC_PRESS200910web.pdf?_ga=2.140589554.1535994387.15583632
28-700910570.1558363228
3 https://downloads.unicef.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2011/09/IPSOS_UNICEF_ChildWellBeingreport.pdf?_ga=2.178328036.1535994387.
1558363228-700910570.1558363228
4 Promoting Children’s Wellbeing: Policy and Practice by Janet Collins and Pam Foley

2. Physical activity in early childhood will have a positive impact on bone and muscle
strength and lung capacity as well as having a positive impact on neurocognitive
processing, academic attainment and cognitive function. It also seems that active
children are less likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, or take illegal drugs as they grow up
(BHF 2009).
There are added benefits if this physical activity is conducted outside; vitamin D is
important for healthy teeth, bones and muscles as it helps the body to absorb
calcium and phosphate.5 Exposure to the sun not only provides the body with vitamin
D but also helps to strengthen the immune system, elevates mood and improves
sleep.6 Children who are tired during the day are more likely to have problems with
hyperactivity, attention and learning than their less tired counterparts.7
Most infants and toddlers will acquire their fundamental motor and movement skills
through unstructured physical activity and play, these skills will stay with them as
they grow and help them well into adulthood. Children who lack proficient motor skills
are often more hesitant to participate in physical activities as they grow older, when
games have the added feature of competition. This lack of participation is inhibiting
children not only from staying active but also hindering the development of their
social skills.
Involving themselves in play can encourage children to develop their vocabulary,
their problem-solving abilities and allows children to connect with their surroundings.
When children play they use their own language, rules and values and this helps
them to develop their identities. This is especially true when children are free from
adult control and are playing in an unstructured way. Children who have fewer
opportunities to play are less likely to create friendships in their community and this,
in turn, impacts their social well-being and their sense of self.
Having the freedom to take risks whilst engaging in play can reduce the chances of
them being overly cautious as they grow up. Overly cautious children are less likely
to be able to judge potentially dangerous situations and may therefore place
themselves in danger. Taking risks in play helps children to face and overcome fears
and phobias. Children having the freedom to play often have stronger friendships,
are more cooperative and more joyful than those who do not. They are also more
creative, expressive and imaginative. Play gives children the opportunity to voice
their opinions and experiences, giving them a safe space to express their feelings
and learn to process their emotions. Imaginary play will also help them develop
empathy, as they are able to learn about the thoughts and feelings of others by
imagining themselves as different people or in different situations. These kinds of
games can help overcome boundaries to help children understand those who they
perceive to be different from themselves reducing the risk of social isolation of
children of different abilities and from different backgrounds. This is especially true
5 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-get-vitamin-d-from-sunlight/
6 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2018/02/28/why-sunlight-is-actually-good-for-
you/#7d675d465cd9
7 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/performance/improve-your-childs-school-
performance-good-nights-sleep

3. with fantasy play which is often seen as therapeutic for children (Smilansky 1968).
Overprotecting children can encourage feelings of anxiety that can develop and
progress throughout their lives.
Children are more likely to engage in an activity that they enjoy and deem to be
“fun”. Children will choose unhealthy activities if they believe that they are more fun
than physical activity (Hemmings 2007). The primary motives for children to engage
in physically active play was for social and enjoyment reasons, to prevent boredom
and because they were aware of the physical and emotional benefits of physical
activity (Brockman et al 2011). With the ever-increasing variety of sedentary
activities that children and young people can enjoy (i.e. computer games, the use of
social networks), the need to create an environment where children enjoy physical
activity is all the more important.
At Sovereign, we have been delivering specialist bespoke outdoor play spaces for
over 20 years and we know that a rich and varied environment is key to a child’s
learning and development. We know how to give children the confidence to explore
and learn in a secure and safe, yet challenging outdoor space.