Our News Category: Play news

Connecting children to public space outdoors had a watershed moment when Richard Louv published his now classic Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. A new handbook on designing public space for children shares examples of how marginalised children are being successfully connected with the outdoors; and includes a chapter from London Play, on play streets.

Landscape Architecture Magazine

The image of the carefree youth, which Mark Twain so eloquently captured in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer during this era, is ultimately one of privilege. In the early 20th century, fortunate boys living without the unending chores of a farm or factory hours in the city had more leisure time to explore the woods and streams. “The country road with barefoot boys, dogs, and fishing poles was an important part of early twentieth century small-town iconography,” notes Gordon, quoting Sinclair Lewis. The iconic youth in small towns was in various ways an elite group. How many prior generations of children of colour and girls were never in Louv’s proverbial woods in the first place?

The editors of The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People focus on providing access and voice specifically to these groups of marginalised young people. Access, in particular, has been a central topic in the research and at conferences. There has also been increasing discussion around social justice. However, empowering voices within the process is a newer concept that brings a different set of challenges to the committed professional.

“While pragmatic about failure, the Handbook is essentially hopeful. Speaking truth to power and empowering the marginalised are not trivial tasks, but ones that require the finesse and suite of skills for which landscape architects, planners, and environmental psychologists are fully trained. Some case studies, such as the creation of a play street culture in London, show how play and independent mobility can be increased.”

The methodologies, tools, and case studies are the guidance and inspiration that leaders and professionals need to support disadvantaged young voices today and to build inclusive public spaces now.

The full article is at Landscape Architecture Magazine.

The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People: Processes, Practices, and Policies for Youth Inclusion, edited by Janet Loebach, Sarah Little, Adina Cox, and Patsy Eubanks Owens; London and New York: Routledge, 2020.

The number of children seeking help for mental health problems increased by 28% during the pandemic, new figures have revealed.

local.gov.uk

Analysis of NHS Digital data by the Royal College of Psychiatrists shows that children have been most affected by the ‘mental health crisis’.

The data shows 80,226 more children and young people were referred to CYP mental health services between April and December last year, up by 28% on 2019.

More than 18,000 children and young people needed urgent or emergency crisis care during this time, an increase of 18% on 2019.

Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

‘Our children and young people are bearing the brunt of the mental health crisis caused by the pandemic and are at risk of lifelong mental illness. As a frontline psychiatrist I’ve seen the devastating effect that school closures, disrupted friendships and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic have had on the mental health of our children and young people.”

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for the additional £500m promised for mental health to urgently reach the frontline to tackle the crisis.

More on this story at local.gov.uk.

The number of children managing the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day drops by 40% as they move through primary school.

A survey of more than 1,000 children and 1,000 parents has found that being active makes most 5 to 11 year olds feel happier, more confident and more sociable. But their levels of activity plummet over the period that they are at primary school, and the worry of ‘not being very good’ is a significant factor in this decline. Some 22 per cent of children saying that this stopps them from being active – a figure which increases with age as it affects just 17 per cent of 5 year olds, but 29 per cent of 11 year olds.

Public Health England, working with Disney and Change for Life has launched a new programme to help encourage children to be more active.

Eustace de Sousa, National Lead for Children, Young People and Families, PHE says: Children’s physical activity levels in England are alarmingly low, and the drop in activity from the ages of 5 to 12 is concerning. Children who get enough physical activity are mentally and physically healthier, and have all round better development into adulthood – getting into the habit of doing short bursts of activity early can deliver lifelong benefits. This programme is part of our work to help children get the right amount of physical activity, both in school and out, as set out in the Childhood Obesity Plan.

Sport England will also help families try new sports and physical activities locally, whether at their local park leisure centre or through a well-known sport.

Mike Diaper, Sport England’s Executive Director of Children and Young People says: Tackling inactivity is a key part of Sport England’s strategy Towards An Active Nation, and we’re supporting families and children to get active together, using National Lottery funding. We know that parents can find getting their kids to be active a challenge. That’s why we’re proud to be supporting the Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Ups with Disney, which uses storytelling to create a fun, and imaginative way for children and their parents to get moving, perfectly timed for the summer holidays.

LONDON: As many as half a dozen housing developments across London – most of them relatively new – separate play areas for richer and poorer children.

Politicians from across the political spectrum this week joined in denouncing developer Henley Homes after a Guardian investigation showed that it was blocking social housing residents from shared play spaces at its Baylis Old School complex in south London. The furore led Henley to back down in a public statement yesterday, and Lambeth Council has begun demolishing the wall.

Now a subsequent investigation has revealed that the story was not unique. As many as half a dozen developments across London – most of them relatively new, or featuring recent conversions of older buildings – separate play areas for richer and poorer children, often with hedges or other barriers.

The Seren Gardens development, located near Greenwich Park, has a mix of social, shared ownership and private homes, and won an Evening Standard award for best large-scale mixed tenure development.

The shared ownership and social housing part of the site, however, which is run by Moat Housing, has no access to the communal leisure areas.

“We have no outside space at all, just that balcony which of course I don’t want my children out on very much,” says resident Lucy, who didn’t want to be identified. “Two children over in the private development are at school with my kids. But they can’t play together. And the kids know – they know there is a play area they can’t use. “We just play in the carpark when it’s sunny.”

Deputy director at London Play, Fiona Sutherland said: “Play, like food and music, acts as a bridge between diverse communities. Segregating ‘poor’ and ‘rich’ children as they play will further entrench inequalities and divisions in society.” She commended the Guardian for shedding light on the issue but said it was not a big surprise to the charity. “This trend first came to prominence when Wandsworth Council demolished its free access Battersea Park Adventure Playground in 2013. This was replaced with a standard fixed equipment playground and any child wanting more exciting adventurous play must now pay £30 to swing over the heads of the poorer children at the Go Ape attraction.”

For more on the Guardian story click here

TOWER HAMLETS: Play time has extended onto the street for two schools in Tower Hamlets

Two roads were closed to traffic for three hours in Poplar so that children could play games, skip, cycle and watch street performances staged by their school.

The East End’s first ‘Play Street’ for 60 years was set up around Bygrove Street and part of Ricardo Street by the Sustrans transport charity and Tower Hamlets Council.

Pupils at Lansbury Lawrence Primary got the benefit from Friday afternoon’s traffic ban.

“We want to create a more ‘liveable’ street environment around our schools,” Sustrans’ Alison Litherland explained. “It encourages reduced car use to make the area around the schools safer and cleaner and improve our quality of life.”

The three hour traffic ban is a return to the ‘play streets’ in former Metropolitan boroughs in east London in post war Britain, before they vanished in the 1960s.

Tower Hamlets went back to the idea for the first time in December when a permanent ‘school street’ was set up with bollards and tree planting at Salmon Road, a cul-de-sac outside the gates of Sir William Burrough School off Salmon Lane in Limehouse.

Tower Hamlets’ cabinet member Rachel Blake said: “Play Streets show the difference reducing traffic can make and help raise awareness about what we can do to reduce pollution.”

For the full story, click here

NEWHAM: Almost £1.2m is to be spent upgrading West Ham Park playground and installing a new water play area.

Looking out the window right now, splashing around in water under sunny skies probably feels like a distant memory for most London families.

But if you’re of dreaming of warmer times ahead, you’ll be interested to know about the fantastic new children’s playground and water park at West Ham Park which will be ready in time for Spring 2020.

The City of London Corporation’s West Ham Park Committee has agreed to spend almost £1.2 million completely overhauling the playground – which by all accounts is looking a bit tired.