November/December 2021
Welcome to a VERY full Edition! Stories about Children’s Play, Children and Young People in Society, Children in the World, Child Health and Wellbeing, Education Early Years and Childcare, Child Legal and Child Research.
Your feedback always welcome.
Fair Play for Children’s main web page: http://www.fairplay31.online/index.html
TOP STORIES
Islington ‘dragon’s lair’ is named London’s best place to play
Islington’s Barnard Adventure Playground was named London’s Adventure Playground of the Year yesterday as the hotly anticipated annual event returned to the West End with a squeal and a roar (and a few rude squelchy sounds too)! Playgrounds in Merton, Lambeth and Hackney also came away with awards.
Around 200 excited children from across the capital converged on the Prince Charles Cinema today to watch the films they had made about the places they love to play up on the big screen; and take part in some very welcome live pandemonium after covid forced proceedings online last year.
The film from the winning playground used Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ as the soundtrack, and left viewers in no doubt that 2021 had been a summer to remember for the young residents of Islington who play there. Children were shown growing pumpkins, dressing up, making go karts, slinging mud, having cardboard slide races and swinging from way, way up high. But it was clear that it is the people — the friends and playworkers at the playground — that are its ‘secret ingredient’. Selena, aged 10 said: “Barnard is the best because I love Sarah [playworker].” Stanley, also 10, added: “Barnard has a lot of space to have fun and you are able to meet new people soon because so many people go there.” Or, as Bruce put it: “I want to know if love is wild… Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire?”
Children at Redbridge’s ELHAP, London Adventure Playground of the Year in 2019, decided on the winner. Barnard was up against three other finalists: Lambeth’s Tulse Hill, Islington’s Waterside and Tower Hamlets’ Roman Road adventure playgrounds. Of Barnard the ELHAP judges commented approvingly: “I liked the children shouting,” and, “They had a huge variety of things.” The winning prize is a pizza and ice cream party at their playground.
The Coolest Place to Play award was won by Merton’s Acacia Adventure Playground, whose film featured a very cool snail named Felicia and some dizzying nest swing action. A tutorial on making ‘ugly potion’ as a kind of therapeutic and safe revenge was a highlight of the ‘Best Flick’ film from Lambeth’s Triangle Adventure Playground. Meanwhile summer at London’s ‘Most Inclusive’ playground — Hackney’s Homerton Grove — looked like one big, long and of course, very welcoming party!
The event also featured the West End premiere of a short film from London Play about a specially adapted play street project that was run during the last national covid lockdown. The Play Street Carousel film featured older and younger residents on locked down streets across the capital on camera, sharing their favourite street games and looking forward to playing them in person when restrictions lifted.
London Play’s chair, Melian Mansfield said: “Congratulations to Barnard, Acacia, and Triangle on their awards — and all the groups that made these wonderful films showing us how very important adventure playgrounds are in the lives of young Londoners. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we must ensure that these vital places are celebrated, promoted and protected for children, now and in the future.
“Play is seen by some as frivolous, but it is hugely important and never more so than today. The Play Street Carousel film demonstrates how play on the doorstep has the power to bring people together across cultures and generations. London Play will not give up fighting for more and better play opportunities for London’s children.”
CHILDREN’S PLAY AND YOUTH WORK
Adventures in Child's Play
Adventures in Child's Play eBook : Wills, Ray: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
CHILDREN IN THE WORLD
including Child Labour, Child Soldiers, Children’s Rights
CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/measles-vaccines-22m-infants-unvaccinated-in-2020-who-cdc/
