Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 31 October 2013
31 Oct 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Play Strategy Action Plan
Maria Montessori said that
“Play is the work of the child.”
If we are a country that truly wants to become the best place to grow up in, we need to become a nation that values play as a life-enhancing daily experience for all our children and young people in their homes, nurseries, schools and communities. Despite our political differences across the chamber, I know that we all share that ambition.
Our aims for our children and young people in Scotland are stretching and aspirational but, as I have said, when it comes to our nation’s future, we should never shy away from ambition. I say that as the Minister for Children and Young People and as a parent to my wee boy, Angus.
Play is the universal language of childhood. The activity exists for its own sake but it also has a fundamental role. All children and young people should have the opportunity to play every day, which is why we published Scotland’s first national play strategy in June and the action plan, which sets out how we will achieve that vision, on Monday.
I was particularly pleased to launch the action plan at the Yard—Edinburgh’s fantastic and inspirational purpose-built indoor and outdoor play centre for children with additional needs. I want that to send a strong signal that the strategy is for each and every child across Scotland; I appreciate the Conservative amendment, which highlights the need to focus on children with additional needs.
The strategy articulates the critical importance of play, as well as our obligation to protect our children’s ability to play. It sets Scotland on the right course for achieving the best for all our children and it draws together many strands of work that are happening across the Government, such as the work that planning colleagues are doing to highlight best practice in recognising the importance of play spaces when designing places and the work that my colleague Shona Robison is doing in her sport portfolio and her development of a youth sport strategy.
The perfect illustration of the links between play and sport is Judy Murray’s set4sport initiative, in which she outlines the games that she played with Andy and Jamie Murray. That shows the importance of laying firm foundations with play in the earliest years to the pursuit of success in elite sport later. We in Scotland are lucky to have a play ambassador in Judy Murray.
The action plan sets out specific actions and timescales and it gives details on who is responsible for delivering elements of the plan, which include: the provision of information to parents on how to access cost-effective materials for play; building and showcasing examples of effective play practices in schools; publishing a resource on children’s rights for the education sector; delivering the strategic planning for play award; and supporting innovative projects. Work is under way to develop an implementation plan to take forward the action plan.
The motion congratulates the play sector on its work—we could never have developed the strategy without it. I take the opportunity to thank all those who worked tirelessly to develop the strategy and the plan and those who will have a key role in implementation. Many of the people involved are in the public gallery, and I thank them for their on-going passion for and commitment to play.
The word “play” belies the topic’s seriousness and its crucial importance to the fabric of society. It is not airy-fairy or frivolous—it is a fundamental part of childhood and it is crucial for the positive outcomes of our nation’s future. Play helps children to make sense of the world and helps their cognitive development. It helps them to develop problem-solving skills and to express their thoughts and feelings, and it helps with literacy and numeracy. We must never forget that play is also about fun.
Play is an essential part of childhood. It takes place in the home from birth, through formal and informal learning and in community settings through the use of public spaces and services. Our role as parents, carers and service providers is to enable and facilitate play. As politicians, policy makers, planners and practitioners, our role is to embed play at the heart of decision making throughout our society and to provide the catalyst for cultural change.
Play comes in many forms. It can be active, passive, solitary, independent, assisted, social, exploratory, educational or just fun. It can happen indoors and outdoors; it can be structured, creative and messy, and it can be entirely facilitated by the imagination or involve using the latest gadget. What is important is that children and young people have the freedom to choose how and when they play and that it does not always have to be led by adults.
Play remains important for all ages and stages and abilities. It is important throughout infancy, childhood, the teenage years through adolescence, and beyond into adulthood. As George Bernard Shaw said:
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
The importance of play in children’s and young people’s daily lives and to healthy development has become increasingly recognised in recent years. A growing body of evidence supports the view that playing throughout childhood is more than an innate behaviour; it also contributes to quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.
Children’s play is also crucial to Scotland’s wellbeing—socially, economically and environmentally. Our people are our greatest resource, and the early years of life set the pattern for children’s future development. Research tells us that early childhood experiences shape developing brain architecture and whether our children grow into healthy and productive members of society.
Our early experiences have a much greater lasting effect than most of us would assume, and play, as a first step in learning, delivers economic benefits by helping children to develop the skills that they need for learning. The potential for savings of up to £9 per £1 invested shows that our commitment to play is right for children and our economy. Scotland’s chief medical officer has also made very clear the importance of play, stating:
“Investing in children’s play is one of the most important things we can do to improve children’s health and wellbeing in Scotland.”
Play is also important in forming healthy attachments in the earliest years. One of the best ways to connect emotionally and physically with children is through play.
For all those reasons, we have developed and continue to develop our award-winning play, talk, read campaign, which articulates the importance of people playing, talking and reading with their wee one from day 1, and empowers parents with hints and tips on things to do with their bairns.
Seeing the difference that play can make in a child’s development is delightful and wonderful, and it benefits the whole family through supporting bonding and building relationships. I am the mother of a lively and active two-year-old, and it is a sheer joy to watch his development though playing. Numerous studies, including the growing up in Scotland study, show that play is a crucial factor in a child’s educational achievement. The benefits from playing and having fun should not be underestimated.
The play, talk, read campaign is in full flow, and we could not let a debate pass in the Parliament about play on 31 October without mentioning Hallowe’en. The “30 things to do at Halloween before you’re 3” list is proving as popular as ever, with tips on how to get messy, read spooky books with mum or dad, carve turnip lanterns and, of course, go dooking for apples.
On a more serious note, I have seen play being used to great effect in prisons. For example, the Scottish Pre-School Play Association’s work in Dumfries prison enables and strengthens relationships and builds attachments and bonds beyond the prison walls between parents and their children. The fathers who I saw appreciated the chance that they got to be with their child and to interact with them in a positive way. They are being given skills in parenting that they possibly never experienced when they were growing up. That builds up their confidence and self-esteem, and the children get the benefit of being with their parent in a normal setting, which means that they are not unnecessarily punished for their parent’s wrongdoing. Play is a simple tool, but it has a profound and long-lasting impact when used in that way.
I have described how play is a child’s job, but it is also a child’s absolute right. Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right
“to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.”
Scotland warmly welcomes the UN general comment on article 31, which was adopted by the UN committee in 2013. The general comment provides interpretation of the article in detail, and it aims to raise awareness of its importance, to promote a richer understanding of the content and to provide guidance for its implementation. The general comment also provides a really useful and tangible example of the importance of the UNCRC and making rights real.
The general comments act to stimulate debate, and they help to identify some of the key aspects of policy and practice that must be considered when working to improve the lives of our children and young people.
“Play is the work of the child.”
If we are a country that truly wants to become the best place to grow up in, we need to become a nation that values play as a life-enhancing daily experience for all our children and young people in their homes, nurseries, schools and communities. Despite our political differences across the chamber, I know that we all share that ambition.
Our aims for our children and young people in Scotland are stretching and aspirational but, as I have said, when it comes to our nation’s future, we should never shy away from ambition. I say that as the Minister for Children and Young People and as a parent to my wee boy, Angus.
Play is the universal language of childhood. The activity exists for its own sake but it also has a fundamental role. All children and young people should have the opportunity to play every day, which is why we published Scotland’s first national play strategy in June and the action plan, which sets out how we will achieve that vision, on Monday.
I was particularly pleased to launch the action plan at the Yard—Edinburgh’s fantastic and inspirational purpose-built indoor and outdoor play centre for children with additional needs. I want that to send a strong signal that the strategy is for each and every child across Scotland; I appreciate the Conservative amendment, which highlights the need to focus on children with additional needs.
The strategy articulates the critical importance of play, as well as our obligation to protect our children’s ability to play. It sets Scotland on the right course for achieving the best for all our children and it draws together many strands of work that are happening across the Government, such as the work that planning colleagues are doing to highlight best practice in recognising the importance of play spaces when designing places and the work that my colleague Shona Robison is doing in her sport portfolio and her development of a youth sport strategy.
The perfect illustration of the links between play and sport is Judy Murray’s set4sport initiative, in which she outlines the games that she played with Andy and Jamie Murray. That shows the importance of laying firm foundations with play in the earliest years to the pursuit of success in elite sport later. We in Scotland are lucky to have a play ambassador in Judy Murray.
The action plan sets out specific actions and timescales and it gives details on who is responsible for delivering elements of the plan, which include: the provision of information to parents on how to access cost-effective materials for play; building and showcasing examples of effective play practices in schools; publishing a resource on children’s rights for the education sector; delivering the strategic planning for play award; and supporting innovative projects. Work is under way to develop an implementation plan to take forward the action plan.
The motion congratulates the play sector on its work—we could never have developed the strategy without it. I take the opportunity to thank all those who worked tirelessly to develop the strategy and the plan and those who will have a key role in implementation. Many of the people involved are in the public gallery, and I thank them for their on-going passion for and commitment to play.
The word “play” belies the topic’s seriousness and its crucial importance to the fabric of society. It is not airy-fairy or frivolous—it is a fundamental part of childhood and it is crucial for the positive outcomes of our nation’s future. Play helps children to make sense of the world and helps their cognitive development. It helps them to develop problem-solving skills and to express their thoughts and feelings, and it helps with literacy and numeracy. We must never forget that play is also about fun.
Play is an essential part of childhood. It takes place in the home from birth, through formal and informal learning and in community settings through the use of public spaces and services. Our role as parents, carers and service providers is to enable and facilitate play. As politicians, policy makers, planners and practitioners, our role is to embed play at the heart of decision making throughout our society and to provide the catalyst for cultural change.
Play comes in many forms. It can be active, passive, solitary, independent, assisted, social, exploratory, educational or just fun. It can happen indoors and outdoors; it can be structured, creative and messy, and it can be entirely facilitated by the imagination or involve using the latest gadget. What is important is that children and young people have the freedom to choose how and when they play and that it does not always have to be led by adults.
Play remains important for all ages and stages and abilities. It is important throughout infancy, childhood, the teenage years through adolescence, and beyond into adulthood. As George Bernard Shaw said:
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
The importance of play in children’s and young people’s daily lives and to healthy development has become increasingly recognised in recent years. A growing body of evidence supports the view that playing throughout childhood is more than an innate behaviour; it also contributes to quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.
Children’s play is also crucial to Scotland’s wellbeing—socially, economically and environmentally. Our people are our greatest resource, and the early years of life set the pattern for children’s future development. Research tells us that early childhood experiences shape developing brain architecture and whether our children grow into healthy and productive members of society.
Our early experiences have a much greater lasting effect than most of us would assume, and play, as a first step in learning, delivers economic benefits by helping children to develop the skills that they need for learning. The potential for savings of up to £9 per £1 invested shows that our commitment to play is right for children and our economy. Scotland’s chief medical officer has also made very clear the importance of play, stating:
“Investing in children’s play is one of the most important things we can do to improve children’s health and wellbeing in Scotland.”
Play is also important in forming healthy attachments in the earliest years. One of the best ways to connect emotionally and physically with children is through play.
For all those reasons, we have developed and continue to develop our award-winning play, talk, read campaign, which articulates the importance of people playing, talking and reading with their wee one from day 1, and empowers parents with hints and tips on things to do with their bairns.
Seeing the difference that play can make in a child’s development is delightful and wonderful, and it benefits the whole family through supporting bonding and building relationships. I am the mother of a lively and active two-year-old, and it is a sheer joy to watch his development though playing. Numerous studies, including the growing up in Scotland study, show that play is a crucial factor in a child’s educational achievement. The benefits from playing and having fun should not be underestimated.
The play, talk, read campaign is in full flow, and we could not let a debate pass in the Parliament about play on 31 October without mentioning Hallowe’en. The “30 things to do at Halloween before you’re 3” list is proving as popular as ever, with tips on how to get messy, read spooky books with mum or dad, carve turnip lanterns and, of course, go dooking for apples.
On a more serious note, I have seen play being used to great effect in prisons. For example, the Scottish Pre-School Play Association’s work in Dumfries prison enables and strengthens relationships and builds attachments and bonds beyond the prison walls between parents and their children. The fathers who I saw appreciated the chance that they got to be with their child and to interact with them in a positive way. They are being given skills in parenting that they possibly never experienced when they were growing up. That builds up their confidence and self-esteem, and the children get the benefit of being with their parent in a normal setting, which means that they are not unnecessarily punished for their parent’s wrongdoing. Play is a simple tool, but it has a profound and long-lasting impact when used in that way.
I have described how play is a child’s job, but it is also a child’s absolute right. Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right
“to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.”
Scotland warmly welcomes the UN general comment on article 31, which was adopted by the UN committee in 2013. The general comment provides interpretation of the article in detail, and it aims to raise awareness of its importance, to promote a richer understanding of the content and to provide guidance for its implementation. The general comment also provides a really useful and tangible example of the importance of the UNCRC and making rights real.
The general comments act to stimulate debate, and they help to identify some of the key aspects of policy and practice that must be considered when working to improve the lives of our children and young people.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good afternoon. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08099, in the name of Aileen Campbell, on the play strategy action plan.
The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
Maria Montessori said that “Play is the work of the child.” If we are a country that truly wants to become the best place to grow up in, we need to become a ...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
On the UNCRC, is the minister still considering changing the wording in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill to “having due regard to” as opposed to...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
The Education and Culture Committee has taken a lot of evidence on that, and the process will be on-going through the stages of the bill. We are certainly ve...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
Does the minister take a view on the prevalence of “No ball games” signs in many areas, which often act as a deterrent to outdoor play for children and which...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Absolutely. As I said, people should view open spaces as being equally for the benefit of children across the country and should allow children to access the...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I doubt that anybody will quibble with the central ethos of the play strategy that we are debating this afternoon, as it goes without saying that play is par...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
I take on board Liz Smith’s points. I know that we have an ideological difference when it comes to the approaches in the bill, but she is keen on culture cha...
Liz Smith
Con
I thank the minister. I do not disagree with that. There are some deep-seated issues, and I heard the minister say earlier that she believes that in some sit...
Jayne Baxter (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open for the Labour Party in this debate and to welcome the publication of the Scottish Government’s play strategy and action plan. I have wo...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
I made it clear in my opening speech that the strategy was not just about the play sector but about bringing lots of different departments together. For exam...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
I must ask Jayne Baxter to draw to a close.
Jayne Baxter
Lab
Okay. I thank the minister for her comments.There are some big aspirations in the action plan, and I hope that the minister will return to the chamber in the...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We now come to the open debate. I remind members that if they wish to speak in the debate, they should press their request-to-speak buttons. That is particul...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome this debate and the Government’s play strategy action plan. The Scottish Government says that it wants Scotland to be the best place in the world t...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for bringing this debate to the chamber, and particularly for her excellent timing. I do not imagine that I am the only one here who wil...
Liz Smith
Con
Ken Macintosh has made an exceptionally valid point. Does he agree that we should be concerned when what I would call common sense about some children’s play...
Ken Macintosh
Lab
I entirely agree with that point, and I might get the chance later to talk about the risk-averse culture. Yes, there are stories of people banning conkers an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I remind members that speeches should be of six minutes. I call Mark McDonald, to be followed by James Dornan.15:17
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
On 7 August, part of the city centre of Aberdeen was essentially turned into a playground, with 250 to 300 children participating in the Aberdeen national pl...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
There is no doubt that there are clear long-term economic and social benefits attached to play, and that investing in children’s play is one of the most impo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before Christian Allard begins, I remind members to address one other by their full names, not only because that is required by protocol, but because it make...
Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the Scottish Government’s action plan. We judge a society by how it looks after its children. As many members have mentioned, we have a lot to lear...
Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to contribute to this important debate on the Scottish Government’s play strategy and the wider efforts that are being made to ensure that Scotl...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
It is extremely important that the minister talked about the fact that article 31 of the UNCRC mentions that every child has the right to play. That is the r...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
It is too easy to dismiss play as a trivial activity for children. The reality is that play is about much more than just having fun. Like many other members,...
Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Like all my colleagues in the chamber, I fully support the development of a national play strategy. Play and recreation are essential to the health and wellb...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
I have a constructive point to make. I hope that Mary Fee would welcome the early years task force, which is the group that administers the change fund. Fami...
Mary Fee
Lab
I thank the minister for that clarity. Those families are an important section of society, and I am pleased that they will not be overlooked.I fully support ...
Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I support the play strategy, as a father and grandfather. My grandson Ruaridh is now a year and a half old, and he teaches his grandfather how to play—of cou...