Design your own
playground: Ministers launch website to get kids views on play
DEPARTMENT FOR
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2008/0096) issued by
The Government News Network on 20 May 2008
Ministers today
launched a fun, interactive website and poster campaign to
encourage children to give their views on play and play areas as
part of the first ever national consultation on children's play.
The website and posters give children the chance to design their
own play space using playground favourites such as see-saws and
round-a-bouts mixed with more modern structures such as wooden
climbing walls.
On the website children can choose from a variety of settings to
reflect their local areas, with a choice of urban, rural or sports
fields on which to build their ideal play area. In order to add
equipment to their play space children must answer a series of
questions around the idea of play. The more questions answered the
more points they earn to spend on designing their own play space.
The views of children and young people will play a crucial part
in this consultation, and it is important that as many as possible
are able to contribute their ideas. This short, online activity is
aimed at 8 to 13 year olds, will ensure that children can give
their views while at the same time being creative and having fun.
All the consultation questions have been drafted using
child-friendly language.
Minister for Children and Young People Kevin Brennan said:
"I want to know what play spaces children actually want.
The website and posters are designed to inspire children to get
involved in our consultation and tell us what makes play fun for
them. We want to ensure that their ideas and needs are at the
heart of everything we are doing to create safe, child-friendly
public spaces and to make this country the best place in the world
to grow up."
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said:
"I want all children to get outdoors and to enjoy being
active. By making it fun for children to answer consultation
questions, we can hopefully get as many responses as possible.
We're going to be developing some fantastic, stimulating play
areas and I hope this will revive outdoor play for children up and
down the country."
The consultation on children's play was announced by
Secretaries of State Ed Balls and Andy Burnham on 3 April. The
initiative means that children across the country will get an
extra 3,500 play areas and 30 local authorities will get £2
million each to build new adventure playgrounds, as part of a £235
million Government investment in children's play.
For more information or to design your own play area visit the
website at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/playspace/
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Government's consultation 'Fair Play' was
launched by Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Culture
Secretary Andy Burnham on the 3rd April 2008. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0067
2. Minister for Children and Young People Kevin Brennan will also
be discussing 'Fair Play' and the importance of
designing child-friendly spaces at today's Play England
National Conference. For a copy of the speech please contact the
DCSF press office on 020 7925 6789.
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