Play Research - Make Time 2 Play

How to make play educational for 3 to 5 year olds

Play is essential for a healthy child development and is the first form of education that children receive. They learn lots of different skills and behaviours from various types of play as they develop the skills they need for life.

Play – it’s in their DNA

A report commissioned by MT2P and written by child health education specialist, Dr Aric Sigman. This report highlights the vital importance of real world play for the development of children and calls for play to be recognised as more than just fun entertainment.

Physical activity and body image in children

This paper focuses on and draws together existing research on the benefits of taking part in sport, play and physical activity from a young age and explores the reasons why some children might be put off the prospect of physical activity due to concerns about their body image and the associated effects on confidence. Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Ambassador for the Make Time 2 Play campaign, offers her expert advice on how parents can help children who might not be naturally inclined to take part in physical activities to overcome their fears and benefit from the many advantages that regular exercise and active play has to offer.

The impact of toys and play on children’s physical activity

This paper focuses on and draws together existing research on the benefits of taking part in sport, play and physical activity from a young age and explores the reasons why some children might be put off the prospect of physical activity due to concerns about their body image and the associated effects on confidence. Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Ambassador for the Make Time 2 Play campaign, offers her expert advice on how parents can help children who might not be naturally inclined to take part in physical activities to overcome their fears and benefit from the many advantages that regular exercise and active play has to offer.

A world without play: a literature review (revised)

This review is part of a wider enquiry conducted on behalf of Play England and the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) for the 2011 Make Time to Play Campaign. The review gives an overview of the importance of play for children’s health, well-being and development, as well as discussing the benefits of play provision to local communities. It illustrates how lack of time and spaces for play, and hostile attitudes towards children playing outdoors can have damaging implications for children’s health and happiness. Drawing on a wide range of evidence, the review indicates the potential consequences of ‘a world without play’; that is, a world where play is placed at the bottom of adult agendas and the value of play in children’s lives is not fully acknowledged. Children will always play, but adults must provide children with opportunities, time to themselves and spaces for play if they are to get the full benefits.

A world without play: an expert view

This report is part of a wider enquiry conducted by Play England and the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) on the impact of play deprivation on children, families and communities. In the context of a study on a world without play, the panel was keen to emphasise that whilst there are serious detrimental effects on children when they are unable to play, play in itself should not be seen as a means to another end. Play, for children, is as natural as eating or sleeping; and as Adam Philips asserts, ‘there is no purpose to the child’s life other than the pleasure of living it. It is not the child, in other words, who believes in something called development.’ The panel was also cautious of depicting British children as living in a ‘world without play.’ Whilst the consensus was that in recent years children have less opportunity to play, due to various pressures on their lives, it cannot be said that children no longer play. The panel made recommendations of measures that should be taken to ensure children continue to have the time and opportunity to play.