Managers Tool 4 Identifying and protecting environments for play Identifying a place for playing can be challenging, particularly in situations of crisis. Nonetheless, good spaces to play within a community show that playing is important. They create a hub for a community, offering opportunities for adults and young people to become involved and socialise together. There are a number of models of provision within The Policy Makers section of this toolkit. When engaging with policy makers to identify the best model for play, it is useful to consider a number of principles when thinking about environments.
Wherever possible environments for play should:
• Make use of natural elements if possible • Provide a wide range of play experiences • Be inclusive and accessible to both disabled
• Provide opportunities for risk and challenge • Be looked after and maintained • Respect children’s choices about where and
• Allow children of different ages to play
• Allow people to connect with other people and
and non-disabled children
together, but also allow specific age groups to have time together (e.g. very young children, teenagers)
how they play
enhance opportunities for socialising.
Things to consider in the short term:
• Consider the location for the play environment • Be as visible as possible. Try to make sure very careful – will children feel safe walking there and back?
• What toilet and washing facilities are/can be made available?
• Is the space used for anything else and how will that impact on the children?
• Organise some introductory play sessions
other professionals, adults, parents and children can see what is happening
• Reflect with colleagues so that successes can be celebrated, challenges can be discussed and solutions to these identified
• Make sure there is an understanding of the
community – find out as much as possible about the characteristics, culture, and demographics of the community to be served.
to help children, parents and other colleagues understand what you will be offering
• Advertise and promote what you will be doing
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