Promoting high quality play

Advice for all practitioners working with children from birth to 5 and beyond, including playworkers in out-of-school clubs.

Play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as well as social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. When children are asked about what they think is important in their lives, playing and friends are usually at the top of the list.

The benefits of play

Play allows children to use their creativity, develop their imagination, vocabulary, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important for healthy brain and physical development. Perhaps above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood.

Why play is important - NHS
Playing Out - Children’s Commissioner’s report

Types of play

Children’s play is rich, varied, organic and constantly evolving. It can explore different types at the same time, flow from one to another and back again. Play types are useful in helping us be more specific when we’re talking about play and play provision but will only ever capture a narrow aspect of the wealth of children’s play.

Inclusive play

Every child is entitled to quality play experiences and it is our role and a child’s right to ensure that no child is excluded.

An inclusive approach ensures provision caters for all children, young people and families. Creating places that are inclusive also encourages an understanding of diversity. Ensuring that young people and adults can all socialise, play and be part of a community enables them to gain a greater awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of others.

Dismantling barriers to play for children and young people gives them the opportunity to express their rights under Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

To understand what barriers there are to play we must understand disability. All children can enjoy play experiences together and children with special needs can feel as included as any other child.

The Charter for Children's Play

The Charter for Children’s Play sets out a vision for play and aims to be a catalyst for individuals and organisations to examine, review and improve their provision for children and young people’s play and informal recreation.

Best Play

Risk in play

The benefits of risk-taking include: extending skills, developing physical and emotional capacities, challenging in new ways and gaining direct experience of the consequences of actions.

Heuristic play

Heuristic play was a term coined by a child psychologist Elinor Goldschmied in the early 1980s and describes the activity of babies and children as they play with and explore the properties of 'objects' from the real world. Heuristic play is rooted in young children’s natural curiosity.

Loose parts

Loose parts are items and materials that children and young people can move, adapt, control, change and manipulate within their play. For further information visit:

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