Opinion: Soapbox - Capital's commitment to play sets a standard
Adrian Voce
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
In 2001 the British Medical Journal reported on the obesity epidemic in young children, saying that the solution was "spontaneous play ... the only requirement to increase their physical activity". Yet, at a recent debate on the subject, a panel including two ministers did not once mention play.
In the Government's 2002 consultation, young people voted first for more - and more fun - things to do and places to go. In the summary responses, however, play and education were merged into one outcome, enjoyment and achievement, misrepresenting education as their priority.
The green paper, Every Child Matters then all but ignored the "enjoyment" part of the equation, citing a stream of educational indicators in its rationale. It should have come as no surprise, then, when the Children Bill translated "enjoyment and achievement" as "education and training".
What a marked contrast in the approach of the Greater London Authority.
While naming the same outcomes, the Mayor's Children and Young People's Strategy develops an explicit children's rights framework and genuinely reflects what young Londoners say most concerns them.
Thus the Mayor announced at the launch in January that his "first priority ... is play". There are strong policy statements to reinforce the central vision that "all children and young people need and have a right to enjoy their lives as full members of their communities ... to fully inhabit a shared public realm ... to have fun in public spaces is one of the hallmarks of a vital and vibrant city".
A key measure will be the Mayor's play strategy to be developed by London Play. This will include guidance for developing council play strategies and emphasising the need for them to cut across the full range of local authority activities. It is intended to be a major tool for local play champions to win support and build the partnerships to create the recreational opportunities all young Londoners' need.
However, with local children's services being shaped by the green paper and the Children Bill, not to mention existing initiatives like the national childcare strategy, this approach will not be truly effective without a counter commitment from the Government.
- Lisa Harker is recovering from injuries sustained in a road accident.
