Get on your marks for National Play Day

PEOPLE of all ages across Swansea need to take time out to play more this summer.

That’s the message going out to families across the city for National Play Day on Wednesday (August 5).

The day is a celebration of children’s right to play, and highlights the importance of play in children’s lives. Events will take place in Swansea and across the UK.

Swansea Council’s Children’s Play Team work all year round spreading the word that play is a vital part of every child’s development and the best way for families to spend time together and have fun.

And they’re planning to celebrate the day in style with an event at Singleton Park, a Play on Wheels Playbus roadshow to the Blaenymas Spark Centre on the day as well as events in parks at Cwmrhydyceirw and Clase.

The team hopes National Playday will encourage even more people to re-discover just how wonderful playing is whether it be making a den, hopscotch, rolling down a grassy hill, getting out a bat or ball or just taking part in make-believe fun.

Cllr Christine Richards, Swansea Council Cabinet member for Services for Children and Young People, said: “Swansea Council has a long-standing commitment to recognising the essential role of play in supporting every child’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

“This is even more significant given Swansea was the first local authority in the UK to sign up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and specifically Article 31 which recognises children and young people’s right to play and to enjoy informal recreation.

“Every child has a natural instinct to play, which needs to be nurtured to enable them to develop.

“We need families to work with us to support and encourage children and young people to abandon the TV and games consoles and get out and enjoy all the health and wellbeing benefits of having great fun playing together.”

Children’s Play Officer Stephen Cable urged adults to do their bit on Playday and all year round.

He said: “Through play children learn essential life skills about themselves and the world around them. Families can support this by playing together, but also by letting their children play, try new things and make decisions for themselves.

“We would also ask everyone else to remember where, when and how they played when they were young and what they can do to support children in their area to play, from watching their speed to recognising that children have a right to play.”

Notes for editors:

National Playday events include a visit by the Play on Wheels Playbus to Singleton Park from 11am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3pm with equipment and activities to suit all ages and abilities, all free of charge.

Events will take place at Blaenymaes Football Field from 11am to 2pm, Christwell Community Project, Manselton from 10am, Clase Park from 12 noon to 2pm and at Cwmrhydyceirw Park.

Have a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/play  to see when Swansea Council’s play team is out and about in a community near you.

Details of other fun activities which offer families the opportunity to play together can also be found at www.swansea.gov.uk/holidayactivities