Looking for a great video that summarizes recent research about the importance of outdoor play? Trying to help others understand why kids need time for unstructured play? Here’s your solution, thank you David Suzuki (only available in Canada)!
https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthi…/m/episodes/the-power-of-play
Check here for a whole bunch of other great videos that are good resources for anyone who supervises children at play.
The following books and articles provide great research-based evidence for the importance of loose parts play (indoors and outdoors) and natural play spaces. They will likely lead you to other key resources, too!
Children’s Unstructured Play, Canadian Public Health Association
Children’s right to play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide, By Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell (working papers in Early Childhood Development, No.57)
Children without play, by Fraser Brown and Sophie Webb
Children’s play and leisure: promoting a balanced approach, Health & Safety Executive
Lenore Skenazy’s blog, Free‐Range Kids
Loose Parts Manual, from Pop-up Adventure Play
Managing Risk in Play Provision: Implementation guide, by David Ball, Tim Gill and Bernard Spiegal
Natural Playgrounds and Outdoor Classrooms, by Green Schools Nova Scotia
No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse society, by Tim Gill
Play and risk, by Tim Gill for the Welsh Govt, by Tim Gill for PlayWales
The Play Deficit, by Peter Gray
A Playful Path, by Bernard Louis DeKoven
The Playwork Primer, by Penny Wilson
Play, naturally: A review of children’s natural play, by Stuart Lester and Martin Maudsley for PlayEngland
Risky Play: Why Children Love It and Need It, by Peter Gray
The Theory of Loose Parts, by Simon Nicholson
We Don’t Play with Guns Here, Penny Holland
Characteristics of Risky Play (2009), Ellen Sandseter
Risky Play And Children’s Well-Being (2021), Ellen Sandseter
Why Kids Are Suffering Today, Peter Gray – this may not seem as relevant, but worth reading to see his position on the importance of kids being able to choose their own activities, challenges, etc.. Loose parts play, and unstructured / (mostly) unsupervised play, can make a difference!
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There are also lots of more current news and editorial items posted on my Facebook page!
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