Play - A Human Rights Issue
A Play Nerd
As a play specialist I am always banging on about the benefits of play. I write articles and books about Play and I am constantly trying to persuade people about the inestimable value of play in the development and well-being of our children. I can demonstrate unequivocally that play is a key criterion for healthy brain growth. I can talk at length about play being intrinsically linked to life expectancy and I can even prove without doubt that play is one of the most powerful therapeutic disciplines, helping even our most vulnerable children to thrive. OK so I might be a bit of a Play nerd.
Article 31 UNCRC
The one thing I don’t often mention is that play is a fundamental human right. Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNICEF, 2019) states clearly that “every child has a right to play”. It may seem a cliché, but childhood is precious. One of the things that makes it precious is that you only get one childhood, one chance, one shot to get it right. Play is such an integral part of a healthy childhood that its absence is nothing short of catastrophic. More than that though, every child deserves to have a childhood filled with play.
A progressive society is founded on inalienable human rights. We are appalled if a human being in our country is deprived of food or water, or is tortured
or held against their will. Yet every day adults take play away from children. Children have play withheld if they have misbehaved or in the name of academic pursuits or because of outdated health and safety views (tree climbing anyone?), or simply because it causes too much mess.