Today, as children, young people, and families across the UK celebrate Playday, PlayBoard NI, the lead organisation for the development of children’s play, is calling on everyone to champion children’s right to play and help build a more playful Northern Ireland where every child can thrive.
This year’s Playday theme highlights the importance of creating opportunities for children and young people to play wherever they are. Children play everywhere – in living rooms and gardens, school playgrounds and parks, neighbourhoods and on local streets.
Play is freely chosen and led by children themselves. It happens when children follow their own ideas and interests, in their own way and for their own reasons.
Play is a natural part of children’s everyday lives and is essential for their health, development, learning and emotional well-being. By creating more playful communities, children can have fun, make friends, learn and develop new skills, develop resilience and confidence and feel like they belong.
For PlayBoard, achieving this vision requires action at government level. The organisation is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce a dedicated Play Strategy alongside planning reforms that embed children’s right to play across Northern Ireland. Only by putting play at the heart of decision-making can we create neighbourhoods and communities where every child has the time, space and freedom to play.
Alan Herron, Chief Executive of PlayBoard NI said:
“Children play here, there and everywhere – at home, in their communities, in parks, schools and in the everyday spaces that shape their lives. Every child in Northern Ireland deserves the time, space and freedom to play because play is fundamental to every child’s healthy development, well-being and sense of belonging.
“Our challenge is not to tell children where they can play, but to ensure the places where they live, learn and spend time actively support it. Playday reminds us that creating a more playful Northern Ireland requires a shared commitment to embedding children and young people’s right to play across government.”
PlayBoard NI is calling for:
- A dedicated Play Strategy for Northern Ireland
- Accessible, inclusive play opportunities in every community
- Greater support for community-led play initiatives and street play
- Safe, active travel routes to parks and green areas
- The embedding of play within planning policy and local development plans
- Stronger support for play throughout the school day.
Alan Herron added:
“As other parts of the UK strengthen their commitment to play through national strategies and planning reform, Northern Ireland must not be left behind. Now is the time for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver a dedicated Play Strategy and planning reforms that embed children’s right to play in the decisions that shape the places where they live, learn and play.”
Chris Quinn, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People said:
“I welcome PlayBoard NI’s call for a dedicated Play Strategy that calls for children’s right to play to be at the centre of decision-making.
“Local planning must recognise the barriers many children face in accessing safe, inclusive and welcoming places to play, and it must be shaped by the voices and experiences of children, young people, families and communities.
“We are grateful for PlayBoard’s continued focus on children’s rights to rest, leisure, play, and cultural and creative activities, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
“Incorporating the UNCRC into Northern Ireland law would strengthen NICCY, statutory organisations, Departments and MLAs’ ability to work together for babies, children and young people by developing ratified child-focused policies and legislation.
“The Northern Ireland Executive must now show leadership and ensure every child, regardless of age, ability or background can experience the educational, social and developmental benefits of play in school, at home and throughout their community.”