“WE AREN’T THAT DIFFERENT TO YOU, WE JUST MAKE TIKTOKS”

Teenagers in Wales lend their voices to campaign challenging the misconceptions of play 

Playful Childhoods has launched a new campaign, ‘When I was your age’ TODAY to challenge misconceptions around teenage antisocial behaviour in public spaces.

The campaign is designed to inspire nostalgia around how adults played when they were teens and encourage them to share their memories of play from their teenage years using the hashtag #WhenIWasYourAge. 

Reports show that today’s teens are more sensible than previous generations, for example with teenage drunkenness halved in Wales since 2002 (World Health Organisation). Despite this, 81% of teens feel like they are unfairly represented in the media (National Citizen Service).

With one in seven 10–19-year-olds having experienced a mental health condition (World Health Organisation) – a figure which has worsened over the Covid-19 pandemic – it is more important than ever that young people can play and socialise in their communities with their friends.

Celyn, 12, said, “We’d just like adults to be okay with us being in the park when we want to be, and know we’re not doing anything wrong. There usually ends up being a big group of us, and we all like to have fun together after school.

“I talk to my parents about what they did when they were my age, and it’s not that different! I spend a lot of time in the park with my friends and hanging out on the benches like they did. We just have phones and stuff now, so we make TikToks and use SnapChat. “

Cerys, Celyn’s mother, said, “Celyn was stuck inside for the best part of a year, and away from school for most of that, so we are even more aware of her developmental needs now. 

“While it can be hard to let our teenager go out and play with her friends without us being around, it’s all part of growing up and allowing her to find herself.

“I spent much of my teenage years hanging out in parks and on the streets of my village, staying out well beyond my curfew and pretending I lost track of time, so I am learning now as a parent how to accept my teenager is the same!” 

Keith Towler, Chair of Wales’ Interim Youth Board and former Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said, “When we talk about the importance of play, we automatically think of children. It is important to recognise though that play is something we should all do throughout our lives.

“When we see teenagers and young people out and about playing and having fun, it is a sign of a healthy community. When I was the Children’s Commissioner it saddened me when young people said that very often adults did not want them to be outside. That they were accused of being anti-social when all they were doing was playing or meeting up outside in the local park. 

“It is true of course that when teenagers are playing, they may be a little boisterous, but it is so important that communities across Wales allow young people to play in our public spaces.”

While play, or ‘hanging out’, might look different today, with more TikTok dances and skateboarding down the park than playing Snake on your 3310 and sitting on the park benches in all weathers, Playful Childhoods hopes the campaign will encourage us all to be more tolerant of each other in shared spaces. 

Marianne Mannello, Assistant Director of Play Wales, said, “Teenagers have a desire for social interaction, to be with friends and part of a crowd and this is a strong motivator for their use of places like streets, towns, villages and shopping centres. Feeling connected and part of these everyday environments has a huge effect on teenager’s sense of belonging, levels of self-esteem and their social and emotional wellbeing.

“Adults can help by advocating for teenager’s right to play. We need to remind ourselves that teenagers are children and that the ways in which they play are likely to be influenced by significant changes in their bodies and brains. By remembering our own teenage years, we can better understand and be more tolerant of teenagers’ playful behaviour.”

Throughout April, Playful Childhoods will share useful advice and tips for adults about play for teenagers, including how to discuss safety when out playing, digital awareness and how to get your reluctant teenager outdoors. 

Visit playfulchildhoods.wales to get involved.