Children and Young People Committee

Inquiry into Parenting Action Plan

Response from Play Wales

Play Wales is the national organisation for children's play. We are the charity that provides advice, support and guidance for all those in Wales who have a concern or responsibility for any environment where children and young people might play. We uphold children's right to play. Freely chosen play is critically important in the healthy development of all children and young people. All children are entitled to quality play provision within their communities and we work strategically to achieve this goal on their behalf. We have been closely involved in drafting the national Play Policy (2002) and in providing recommendations for Play in Wales (2006) the Welsh Assembly Play Policy Implementation Plan.

Play Wales welcomes this opportunity to respond to the

the National Assembly for Wales’ Children and Young People Committee’s call for evidence for its short inquiry into the Welsh Assembly Government’s Parenting Action Plan.

Play Wales is represented on Fforum Magu Plant and has contributed to its response to this exercise. As such, we support the evidence presented by Fforum Magu Plant and welcome the opportunity to provide the following observations and recommendations.

Introduction

Play is central to children’s lives and therefore of great relevance to parents and carers. Play Wales would suggest that although reference has been made to Article 18 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child there are other Articles within the Convention, such as that relating to play (Article 31) that are also relevant to the Action Plan.

We would also draw attention to the Welsh Assembly Government Play Policy (October 2002) that states:

lay is so critically important to all children in the development of their physical, social, mental, emotional and creative skills that society should seek every opportunity to support it and create an environment that fosters it. Decision making at all levels of government should include a consideration of the impact of those decisions on children’s opportunities to play.

The Welsh Assembly Government recognises that the impact of modern society on children’s lives has significantly restricted their opportunity to play freely and has resulted in a poverty of play opportunities in the general environment.

And to the actions within 'Play in Wales’ (February 2007):

Action: The Assembly Government will incorporate encouragement of play at all ages in the Assembly Government parent support programmes.

Action: The Assembly Government will produce a handbook for parents on what constitutes quality play and how they can facilitate

In the interests of a coherent approach, and cross-cutting thinking, we feel that since they directly relate to parents and carers, these recommendations should also be included in the Parenting Action Plan.

Play Wales strongly recommends the funding of provision of information for parents and carers so that they can recognise and support their children’s need for freely chosen, self-directed play as set out in the Welsh Assembly Government Play Policy. This would directly assist parents in facilitating their children’s healthy development and learning, and in understanding and making provision for their behaviour as they grow up. It would also mean that they were better informed in their choice of services for their children and in their participation in the life of their children in the wider community e.g. on school governing bodies or management committees, and in partnership meetings. The current information leaflets provided to parents do not meet this need.

Play Wales is the organisation best placed to provide expert advice, guidance and consultancy on children’s play in the home and the local community, and how it might best be facilitated. We would recommend that Play Wales has a significant role in drafting any information to parents regarding child development and the facilitation of quality play experiences. In this way Assembly advice and guidance will be consistent with Play Policy and Implementation Plan.

As the lead organisation for children’s play in Wales we were not included in the drafting of the "From Breakfast to Bedtime” (although we gave an alternative wording in retrospect) or "Over the Top Behaviour …” leaflets. We would argue that the wording could be amended so as to better aid parents, and to be more 'play’ and therefore child friendly.

Parents overwhelmingly want what is best for their children, and often mourn what they see as the loss of the play opportunities that they benefited from when they were young. Providing them with appropriate, accessible, practical advice about how to facilitate their children’s play needs and about the benefits of children playing within their local environment, will not only help them to understand and manage their children’s behaviour, but also help them to provide a flying start for their children in terms of their healthy development. At the same time it will contribute to the implementation of the Welsh Assembly Government Play Policy.