Scotland launches its first national play strategy
Katy Morton
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Scottish Government has launched the country's first play strategy, which recognises the vital role of play to children's well-being and development.
The strategy, which the Scottish Government says is the most ‘progressive of its kind in the UK’, aims to work towards improving young lives and making Scotland the ‘best place to grow-up’.
It will underpin Scotland’s existing policies for children, and support proposals outlined in the Children and Young people Bill, currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
It also aims to reaffirm the key messages of the Scottish Government’s PlayTalkRead campaign, which launched in 2011 to encourage parents and carers to engage more with their babies and young children through day-to-day experiences.
Details on how the strategy will be implemented will be published in an action plan in the Autumn.
The action plan will outline how the Scottish Government will educate professionals working with families to understand how important play is, and how to ensure that play is a daily experience for all children and young people. it will also emphasis the value of risk through play and providing challenging play opportunities managed through risk assessments.
Scotland’s minister for children and young people Aileen Campbell said, ‘We learn so much from play, it allows us to explore and be inquisitive. It helps us build confidence and interact with others and the wealth of all of this experience stays with us.
‘International research has shown time and again that our early experiences have a much greater lasting effect than most of us would assume and that play, as a first step in learning, delivers economic benefits by helping children develop the skills they need for learning. The potential for savings of up to £9 per £1 invested shows our commitment to play is right for children and right for our economy.’
Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of Play Scotland, said, ‘Every child needs to play freely in order to grow into a healthy, happy, creative and confident adult. Children and young people tell us that they want more time and space to play at home, at school and in the community.
‘Scotland’s new national play strategy aims to sort this out by increasing awareness and understanding of children’s play needs, and the health, well-being and child development benefits of play. ‘
It will underpin Scotland’s existing policies for children, and support proposals outlined in the Children and Young people Bill, currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
It also aims to reaffirm the key messages of the Scottish Government’s PlayTalkRead campaign, which launched in 2011 to encourage parents and carers to engage more with their babies and young children through day-to-day experiences.
Details on how the strategy will be implemented will be published in an action plan in the Autumn.
The action plan will outline how the Scottish Government will educate professionals working with families to understand how important play is, and how to ensure that play is a daily experience for all children and young people. it will also emphasis the value of risk through play and providing challenging play opportunities managed through risk assessments.
Scotland’s minister for children and young people Aileen Campbell said, ‘We learn so much from play, it allows us to explore and be inquisitive. It helps us build confidence and interact with others and the wealth of all of this experience stays with us.
‘International research has shown time and again that our early experiences have a much greater lasting effect than most of us would assume and that play, as a first step in learning, delivers economic benefits by helping children develop the skills they need for learning. The potential for savings of up to £9 per £1 invested shows our commitment to play is right for children and right for our economy.’
Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of Play Scotland, said, ‘Every child needs to play freely in order to grow into a healthy, happy, creative and confident adult. Children and young people tell us that they want more time and space to play at home, at school and in the community.
‘Scotland’s new national play strategy aims to sort this out by increasing awareness and understanding of children’s play needs, and the health, well-being and child development benefits of play. ‘
