The Child's Right to Play  -  The Reasons Why

Why does the world's  most successful Treaty, the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child, include the Right to Play?   Why is so much emphasis given by educators, doctors, researchers etc to this?  

Play is as old as humanity, back over 3.7 million years ago our distant ancestors walked in Tanzania, there is a child walking beside an adult, no doubt curious and anxious to play ....

It is because for the Child, its Play may be 'messing about', Fun. seemingly aimless, something every child does without thinking whether it has to or not, but it is also just about the most important thing it does.  

Play is about Learning, about trial and error, about discovery, about relationships, indeed about exploring the world around it.   Not for nothing has Play been called 'the child's natural business'.   

Imagine a world where suddenly something stops all our adult activity in its tracks.  Who would do the 'next thing' and what would that be?   Children might just Play?   They do in every conceivable situation and circumstance as soon as they are able, they colonise, explore, learn, adapt.        

And yet, we adults have ensured that much of the child's play environment has been degraded and compromised - residential streets occupied by the car,  children's freedom to play restricted by fears, intolerance, adult agendas and pressures.   Their health is compromised as is their healthy development.   

The role of Fair  Play for Children is to keep that right and obligation before society, and to encourage people to fight for its advance.  We seek your support, membership, ACTION.      We are a Campaign for The Child's Right to Play - JOIN US!

    

   

Nor these calamities

 
  

     

Zeal for Play may have propelled Human Evolution

Ancient footsteps, adult and child, the latter is ?dancing along?   Three million+ years ago ......

 from the New York Times, April 2013 - a thoughtful view on just how important Play has been in shaping how Humanity has developed.        Read Article HERE

What Children say about their Play

                                                            NO BALL GAMES   -  Guardian documentary 2020

   FAIR PLAY IN ACTION

OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGN

Youth Provision Review - Make it Article 31 Compliant

Fair Play's response to Government Review of Statutory Guidance re Youth Services calls for changes in the operation of existing law which imposes duties on Local Education Authorities which many are failing to observe

Fair Play Manifestos  for Play

 What Fair Play has been seeking - showing little progress 2010-2019  ....

Fair Play's Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - UK Review 2016

Play Wise:  asking Children and Young People what they want

Engaging Children and Young People in active participation in their communities is a key requirement in the healthy development of both them and the environment in which they live.   One of their first encounters in that comes through their Play.   PlayWise is a Programme of Fair Play for Children aimed at fostering this participation.

One acre for every 18 .... Golfers fare better than kids

There are around 16100 playgrounds in England serving an estimated 11.2 million children aged under 16, or 1 acre of playground for every 752 children

Unfair Play for Children

Stolen Streets, Stolen Childhood