A new play strategy for Cardiff has been officially launched at a ceremony at City Hall.
The ‘Every Child has the Right to Play’ strategy aims to set out a clear vision and mission for play across the city, emphasising how essential play is in the healthy development of children and young people.
The strategy covers all children and young people up to the age of 25, with primary focus on five to 15 year olds.
Every child needs to play and the importance of play for children cannot be underestimated, as the developmental benefits of play are immense, not just in terms of children’s physical development but in every other area of their development, such as their social well being and intellectual capabilities. The consequences of play deprivation in childhood include poor physical and mental and health which can last a lifetime.
Play promotes a healthy lifestyle, improves fitness and encourages children and young people to develop an active lifestyle as well as promoting mental health and social well being.
The strategy which has taken a couple of years to produce has undergone extensive consultation with children and young people as well as colleagues from health and the voluntary sector.
The launch was attended by children and young people from Riverbank Primary, Grangetown Primary and Baden Powell and Moorlands schools.
The children from Riverbank Primary and Grangetown Primary took part in emphasising the importance of play in their lives by each taking it in turns to talk about and sing a song about play.
The event concluded with poems by Tianna Trebilcock, aged six, and Briony Cooper, aged ten, who attend Splott Play Centre.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells attended the event along with council staff, partner organisations and voluntary sectors involved in the strategy.
Councillor Howells said: “The launch of the Play Strategy marks an additional step in Cardiff Council’s commitment to providing the absolute best in play services to children and young people in the local community. The ceremony was a wonderful occasion in marking the launch of the strategy and the children from Riverbank Primary and Grangetown Primary were especially good at providing a fun insight into what play means to them.”
To view a copy of the Play Strategy, please visit www.cardiff.gov.uk, select Children’s Play link on the homepage then select Play Strategy.
