The Play Matters Collective celebrates the first International Day of Play at Attadale Primary School
The International Day of Play is a global unifying moment, that recognises the significance of play in everyone’s lives- especially children. No matter where children live or under what conditions, …worldwide… they are seen actively playing.
The Play Matters Collective celebrates the first International Day of Play at Attadale Primary School
Play is back on the agenda
Today, it is timely to remind ourselves, and others, that contemporary evidence-based research shows the wide ranging benefits of play. We are born with this innate urge to play: a natural instinct and necessary element to healthy human development. It is the means, by which, children learn to navigate their environment and life experiences. Play fosters positive mental and physical health/wellbeing. It acts as a catalyst for executive functioning: a set of cognitive processes, that assist us with controlling behaviour and achieving goals. It can break down social and cultural barriers; and sooth trauma.
From L to R: Sarah McGowan (Board Member, Nature Play WA), Lisa O'Malley (Member for Bicton), Sabine Winton (Minister for Early Childhood Education), Sandra Hesterman (Chair, Play Matters Collective)
Within the realm of school, play is an essential medium for supporting learning in a balanced and natural manner. Play-based learning, in particular, enhances joy, curiosity, inquiry: communication and problem-solving skills, creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. Importantly, play-based learning, both inside and outside the classroom, enables children to demonstrate the EYLF outcomes, such as developing a strong sense of identity, when designing and expressing personal meaning in relation to their interests and lived experiences.
Working together: Play Matters
On this special day, it’s noteworthy, that while there are currently challenges and gaps in play provision, the Play Matters Collective and other key stakeholders in Western Australia are dedicated to raising community awareness about play matters. After wide community consultation, a WA Play Charter, aimed at providing a shared common language on the meaning of ‘play’ has been written in collaboration with ECA, Nature Play and Play Australia. Advocates have also been involved in creating a National Statement on Play and have facilitated by Valuing Children’s children’s advisory workshops to capture children’s perspective on play.
Download the WA Play Charter and join the movement of Play Advocates in WA
2024 Play Summit
A free community Play Summit, planned for September 2024, will explore the connection between children and young people’s identity and play; and will include diverse cultural interpretations on play as experienced in WA. In addition, there are many community grassroot play initiatives occurring across the State such as loose part play in local parks, and schools taking initiative to write their own school play policy to, monitor the sufficiency of play time, resources and spaces for their students to play.
Save the date: Discovering Children's Identity Play Summit, hosted by the Play Matters Collective
The work of the United Nations has shown that restricting provision for play impedes a child’s wellbeing and healthy development. Separating “play” from “learning” interferes with the role of play in learning. Therefore, it is with deliberate intention that the International Day of Play signals a call for policies, training, and funding to integrate play fully into the community and education.
Play Matters in WA: join the movement
Finally, under the patronage of the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms. Jacqueline McGowan Jones, the Play Matters Collective warmly welcomes you to join us in our advocacy work to inspire actionable steps to uphold sufficiency of opportunities for children to realise their right to play, as enshrined in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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