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Meeting of the Parliament 31 October 2013

31 Oct 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Play Strategy Action Plan

Macintosh, Ken Lab Eastwood Watch on SPTV

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 will rush home to get the kids ready to go out guising this evening. Hallowe’en, along with Christmas and birthdays, is one of the few days in the year when we truly free up our children to celebrate their playfulness and imaginations. We let them off the leash, allow them to wander the streets after dark and, heaven forbid, maybe even knock on strange doors.

Of course, the day has changed over the years. For many it is now “trick or treat” rather than guising, although I should say that I am very grateful for the American habit of gouging out a pumpkin rather than the laborious and painful task of doing it to a turnip, as most of us had to do. Depending on one’s age, another welcome—or unwelcome—change is getting pound coins at some houses and not just sweets. The apples and nuts are just to keep the adults happy, as far as I can see.

I had a big debate with one of my children—I lost that debate too, which is a familiar experience—about him buying a ninja outfit off the internet rather than dressing up as Dr Who using old clothes as his sister is doing. The point is, however, that they are both having fun. Tonight, I will probably take the wee ones—aged five and under—out, but the bigger ones, who are eight and over, want to go off by themselves with their friends. No adult supervision is required, thank you very much.

It is slightly worrying that the very freedom to play like a child, as I have just described it, seems to be all too rare, rather than commonplace. Adults do not have the time, and children do not have the places. As a society, we relax our guard only on one or two days a year. That makes today’s debate on the play strategy that the Government published in the summer and, more important, the action plan that was published this week, so important.

As every member has said so far, play is essential to our wellbeing. As the strategy makes clear, it can tackle obesity, improve health, and reduce antisocial behaviour. Most important of all, it can help to develop our inquisitiveness, resilience and personality. As we all know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

The benefits of play are well known and used by some already. In the early years of primary school, for example, teachers have adapted the curriculum specifically so that there is greater emphasis on children learning through play. However, even in the field of education, the further our children and young people progress through school, the more sober and serious the curriculum becomes and the less time and attention are given to play.

Two reports that were produced on successive days in the past fortnight caught my attention. The first, from the University of Strathclyde with the University of Dundee, suggested a link between taking more exercise and improved performance in exams including in English, maths and science. The second study, also from the University of Strathclyde, this time in conjunction with the University of Aberdeen, took the form of a report card on Scottish youth and it gave us an F on obesity levels and levels of physical activity.

There are many reasons why our nation is becoming fatter and more sedentary. Our increased prosperity is perhaps the most obvious reason, but our changed and changing attitudes to play are also part of the picture and, to my mind, part of the answer.

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Meeting of the Parliament 31 October 2013

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