Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, runs from 18-24 May across the UK. The theme of the week this year is Kindness. Play is instrumental in supporting children and young people’s mental health and resilience and can have similar benefits for adults too. Through play [...]
National Children’s Day is celebrated across the UK on 17 May 2020. To mark the day PlayBoard shared a challenge for children and young people to celebrate 35 years since the organisation was established. The challenge is to recreate our 35th anniversary logo (see the story image). This could [...]
As we work towards the eventual reopening of School Age Childcare settings we have been asked by Government to provide an indication of the level of demand for services once they reopen. It should be noted that any future reopening would be subject to ongoing risk assessment in line with [...]
How many of us as children, wished to have an endless summer where we didn’t have to go to school and we could play all day in the sunshine? I’m “just” old enough to remember 1976 when we enjoyed long, hot summer days which brought an eventual drought because [...]
The Department of Health issued an update to Childminders and Day Care providers on 1 May on the COVID-19 Childcare Support Scheme. Read the letter on Family Support NI’s website. Early Years and PlayBoard NI are offering support to the sector on the Covid-19 Childcare Support Scheme. Closed applications [...]
With a view to supporting the School Age Childcare (SAC) Sector in Northern Ireland at this challenging time, PlayBoard NI is undertaking a survey aimed at identifying the impact of Covid-19 on School Age Childcare settings. The data collected will be used to guide ongoing discussions with Government regarding [...]
The Northern Ireland branch of the International Play Association (IPA NI) have shared helpful advice for parents during the current crisis. The message for parents highlights the importance of play at any time, but especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Play is natural and therapeutic and allows children to work through [...]
Watch Jacqueline O'Loughlin, PlayBoard CEO chat with Cormac Ó Mórdha from NVTV in The Round-Up at 12 minutes in. "Play is a necessity, it's not optional or entertainment. It is something children need to grow and flourish and build the skills and resilience they need to cope with adversity ... if [...]
This information sheet has been designed in cooperation with the Department of Education’s Play Matters project, to assist teachers, playworkers, parents and those offering care to children in these challenging times, to consider how they might provide quality play opportunities and experiences. Regardless of the back drop it is [...]
New proposals to help support vulnerable children and the children of key workers have been announced today. Around £12 million has been provided for Emergency Childcare provision for key workers. Education Minister, Peter Weir and Health Minister, Robin Swann today outlined the package of measures which is being developed [...]
