An expert in early childhood studies has praised recent work in Worcester to provide high quality play opportunities for children and young people.
Battenhall Pump Track (Credit Worcester City Council)
Dr Emma Laurence, lecturer at the University of Worcester in the Department for Children and Families and a specialist in child development, has been looking at recent expenditure in play equipment in Worcester and assessing social returns on the investment.
“These facilities show that we value these people in our society,” said Dr Laurence. “It gives children and young people a sense of belonging while encouraging pro-social behaviour.”
She was speaking after the recent completion of a new pump track at Battenhall, the opening of the new Play On the Way area in Warndon, and the announcement of plans for a ‘destination facility’ pump track at Perdiswell.
Dr Laurence said: “One thing I’ve seen with the pump track at Battenhall in particular, is that it’s created a play opportunity for slightly older children. We know that play spaces have dwindled dramatically in recent years, but where we do see them, we tend to see lots of swing sets and slides and things aimed at younger children, but there can often be little provision for teenagers to use for free.”
She continued: “When we create these facilities for young people it creates social capital, improves their ties to the community and quite often, people are much more likely to look after that place if it has been created for them.”
She added: “For teenagers and young people there can be a lack of provision in terms of space where they can just exist. A place where there’s light and maybe shelter which isn’t their bedroom. A key aspect of their development is about peer relationships, so they’ve got to be able to exercise that outside of school.”
Dr Laurence said: “Play gives children the ability to regulate themselves emotionally,” said Dr Laurence. “It allows them to exercise critical thinking skills and nurture their social relationships.”
“We all know some of our best memories were in play when we were younger,” she said. “When I speak to people, often their most memorable play experiences were unsupervised, and they were child led and often outdoors.”
She added: “Opportunities for this for today’s children are vanishingly small, so I’m delighted to see this being an area that Worcester is investing in.”
Wednesday 6th August is the UK’s National Playday, the annual day for play, highlighting the importance of play for children’s health, happiness and development.
To mark the occasion, the play advocacy group Play Worcester are holding a Den Building day in Gheluvelt Park.
Kate Collier, from Play Worcester, said: “We’ll be there with big foam blocks, milk crates, tarps, everything you need to let your young people’s imaginations run wild.”
She added: “Den building is free, and it’s for everyone from toddlers upwards; I think the grown-ups enjoy it just as much as the children and young people.”
She added: “The theme of this years play day is ‘spaces to play’, and we want this to be a community event. We’re hoping it’ll be a good prompt for people to play together as families at home.”
The den building activities are free and take place from 11-3 on Wednesday 6 August near the Kyndfolk Café in Gheluvelt Park.
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