Why play is so vital in childhood

During the summer break children and young people should be putting down the TV remote, switching off the games console and making the most of their free time, the warmer weather and getting outdoors, according to Oldham’s Local Safeguarding Children’s Board. And chairman Jim Leivers has a message to all Oldham parents and carers coping with the long summer holidays.


PLAY is fundamental to developing every child’s life skills.

Through nurturing their creativity and physical development to building good social skills, learning about risk and increasing their self-confidence, play is an integral part of childhood.

Oldham Local Safeguarding Children Board is calling for children to take part in adventurous and challenging play opportunities.

The key message of the campaign is that all children need and want challenge, excitement and uncertainty in play.

As a parent you may feel unsure about whether or not it’s safe to allow your child more freedom to play outside unsupervised.

Of course we want to protect our children, but the cotton wool culture that they are growing up in can limit their play and give them a fear of the unknown.

According to a report published by the Children’s Society in 2007, only a third of 10 year olds are allowed out on their own.

And an opinion poll conducted by ICM last year showed that 71 per cent of adults played outside in the street or area close to their homes everyday as children, compared to just 21 per cent today.

Deciding on the freedoms and boundaries you want to give your child is down to individual parental choice.

What some people consider to be liberal, others will see as irresponsible and others as overprotective. This is an instance where mother (and father) knows best.

It is important for you as the adult to provide your child with adventurous play opportunities, but at the same time, nobody wants to put a child at risk.

Oldham LSCB believes that children need to be made aware of the dangers facing them and should be supervised during playtime in line with their age, understanding and other environmental factors – such as play in an off-road area in sight of home.

Other experts on the subject actually claim that experiences in childhood such as getting lost in a supermarket can actually be beneficial to children as it tests their resources and teaches them how to manage challenge and risk for themselves in everyday situations. We would not advocate children getting lost but parents can help prepare children by talking about and practising what they would do.

Jim Leivers, chairman of Oldham LSCB, says: “Play is crucial to the social, mental and physical development of children.

“Attitudes to play have changed with the times and children still need to learn how to stay safe, be smart and protect themselves from danger when on their own, at school or at play.”

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families Councillor Kay Knox, added: “Living in Oldham we are lucky to have access to such beautiful countryside, parks and green spaces where children can be safe from traffic and enjoy the outdoors. Our community is rich in diversity and if we can give children opportunities to play together in our parks and open spaces they will gain a sense of security and community spirit as well as building their citizenship skills and confidence.

“The Council has invested money into the Adventures in Play Programme which will expand on play opportunities in the boroughs’ parks and green spaces.”

For information on other play opportunities in Oldham over the summer holidays contact Steph Gill on 0161-678 9662 or Helen Mohatta on 0161-770 4896 or visit the events directory website www.ouroldham.info 


The five top tips to keep children safe
1 Fatal or serious accidents can happen when children are tempted to play in danger zones such as railway lines building sites or open water. Advise your child to stay well away.

2 Discuss the issue of strangers and their associated danger in a calm tone of voice; children will listen and learn properly because they are more receptive to calm manners of conversation.

Children need to have a clear plan should they be approached by a stranger which includes saying no very loudly, calling for help and going straight to a trusted adult such as in a shop, the health centre or a police officer.

3 Toddlers and pre-school aged children can’t yet grasp the consequences of potentially harmful situations and very young children should never be out and about without close supervision by a known adult.

4 Make sure your child knows how to get help. They should learn their address and phone number and how to phone the police, dial 999 or 112 in Europe.

5 Tell them never to get into a vehicle or go anywhere with someone they don’t know well and to always tell you where they are going, who they are going with and when they expect to be back.

And remember that the road is never, ever a safe place for children to play. Do not let children play on the roadside or allow little ones to be out with only older children to supervise them. The older child may get distracted and forget the little ones in a blink of an eye.