The features of an optimum environment for play

3. The features of an optimum environment for play

The Committee on the Rights of the Child asserts that children have a spontaneous urge to play and participate in recreational activities and will seek out opportunities to do so in the most unfavourable environments. However, certain conditions need to be assured, in accordance with children’s evolving capacities, if they are to realise their rights under article 31 to the optimum extent.

As such, children should have:

•Freedom from stress • Freedom from social exclusion, prejudice or discrimination • An environment secure from social harm or violence • An environment sufficiently free from waste, pollution, traffic and other physical hazards to allow them to circulate freely and safely within their local neighbourhood • Availability of leisure time, free from other demands • Accessible space and time for play, free from adult control and management • Space and opportunities to play outdoors unaccompanied in a diverse and challenging physical environment, with easy access to supportive adults, when necessary • Opportunities to experience, interact with and play in natural environments and the animal world • Opportunities to invest in their own space and time so as to create and transform their world, using their imagination and languages • Opportunities to participate with other children, supported, where necessary, by trained facilitators or coaches • Recognition by parents, teachers and society as a whole of the value and legitimacy of the rights provided for in article 31. (Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2013:10-11).

The lack of play impacts on all children wherever they live. Children living in poor or hazardous environments, children in situations of conflict or humanitarian disaster, asylum-seeking and refugee children, children in street situations, and migrant or internally displaced children are likely to be unreasonably affected by environmental constraints on their enjoyment of their right to play. Policy makers who are sensitive to children’s play needs in the planning, design and management of programmes to support such children will create more desirable environments and alleviate the possible effects of lack of play.