What's Playday?
Playday is the annual celebration of children’s
right to play, a national day highlighting the importance of play
in children’s lives.
Now in it’s 23rd year, Playday is the biggest play
sector event in the UK. Traditionally held on the first Wednesday
of August, Playday 2010 takes place on 4 August.
What happens on Playday?
On Playday and throughout the summer,
children, young people and communities get out and play at hundreds
of locally organised events. Previous years have seen
children take over town centres, parks, woodlands, and even
beaches. Last year, over 830 events took place across the UK, and
this year is set to be even bigger.
Campaigning for change
As well as a celebration, Playday is
an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children’s
play. As part of Playday 2010, Play England and partners
have launched the Our place
campaign. The campaign is tackling the restrictions faced by
children wanting to play outside where they live, and highlights
the role of communities in shaping childhood.
Get involved
A wide variety of individuals and
organisations will be getting involved in Playday
2010 – from local authorities to community groups,
play settings and groups of neighbours. There are lots of ways you
can celebrate Playday and get involved in the wider campaign.
Why not:
- Organise a celebration –
Anyone can organise a Playday event. Whether it’s a large
community-wide event or a get-together with friends and family,
there are lots of ways to celebrate. Free
resources are available to help you plan a Playday event and,
if you do decide to celebrate, you can get a free registration
pack!
- Attend a Playday event –
with hundreds of events across the country there’s bound to be one
near you. Check out the Events near you
pages to see how Playday is being celebrated in your local
area.
- Spread the Playday word –
the more people that know about Playday, the more opportunities
children will have to play where they live. Free
promotional materials are available to download and order
via the Resources pages.
Where and how you decide to celebrate
Playday is up to you - what’s really important is that
children and young people get to have fun, and that you help raise
awareness that not all children have the chance to experience
outdoor fun all year round.