Dublin is among the few cities in the world to have a Play Development Officer. It has launched a City Play Strategy with a tagline—Everywhere, Anyday, You Can Play! The city council is trying to transform itself into a child-friendly and playful city. Indian cities could also be friendly to their young citizens by introducing creative concepts.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It is a fitting statement for all of us, but more appropriate for growing children. Playing is not a frivolous pastime but a fundamental human need—a source of happiness, creativity, and connection. Life is not just about studying, working, running businesses, and other such things. We need a pinch of playfulness to bring vitality and joy into our lives. There are many ways grown-ups can find enjoyment in their daily lives by travelling to the downtown market or to their favourite restaurant, or a bar. But what options do urban children have? These days, many children remain glued to their parents or grandparents’ mobile phones. At times, parents themselves hand over mobile phones and tablets to comfort or divert their toddlers’ attention because they don’t have time for playing with them. A newspaper report warns that recent research reveals that such devices cause emotional dysregulation in children aged 3 to 5 years.
Children must be encouraged to play in neighbourhood parks or in the alleys of their colonies in the company of their friendes and neighbours. However, many children living in low- and middle-income colonies of Tier II and III cities do not even have this privilege. The parks in these localities are either not well maintained or unsafe for children to play in. There are facilities in high-income or gated colonies where Resident Welfare Associations are active and can invest time, money, and wield influence to get the maintenance of the parks done. Enabling a playing environment for children does not feature highly in municipalities’ priorities in India, as they are busy solving basic service issues amidst staff and
funds crunch.
Importance of playing
Playing stimulates creativity, develops problem-solving skills, empathy, and self-discipline, helps children explore feelings, learn how to express themselves, and works out the emotional aspects of life. For example, climbing in jungle gyms fosters physical strength and coordination, while imaginative play in urban parks encourages cognitive development and emotional intelligence. Moreover, interacting with diverse peers in play spaces teaches children about cooperation, empathy, and cultural understanding. By integrating play into urban environments, we not only promote the well-being of children but also create vibrant, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive.
Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recognises the right of the child 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. It states that States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational, and leisure activity.
Playing is an easy way through which kids can learn, grow, and explore the world around them. In bustling city environments where green spaces are shrinking, providing opportunities for play becomes even more crucial. There are some good examples from many cities around the world. In this article, I focus on what Dublin is doing.
Dublin Play Strategy
The vision for Dublin as a child-friendly and playful city to improve the lives of its youngest citizens is at the heart of the Dublin City Play Strategy. The city has a population of 321,741 children under the age of 18 years. It aims to provide improved and increased opportunities for play for children throughout the city.
Alison Gilliland, Mayor of Dublin City, said, “The strategy acknowledges and understands play as a biological and psychological element of children and young people’s development and a social necessity that supports their overall health and wellbeing. In realising this understanding of play, we promote a holistic approach in the development of a hierarchy of high-quality citywide play infrastructure that encompasses local and public places and spaces for play that are accessible and inclusive for children and young people of all ages, genders, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.”
The strategy document says that during February 2022, Dublin City Council Parks, Biodiversity & Landscape Services-Play Development, and Dublin City Council Libraries coordinated and hosted the ‘Create a Title for the Dublin City Play Strategy’ competition for schools in Dublin City Council’s administrative area. The winning and aptly named title “Everywhere, any day, you can play” was created by 10-year-old author Leon Travers from Francis St School.
The City had earlier launched ‘Play Plan: Play Here, Play There, Play Everywhere’ in 2012, and the strategy is a step forward. The city used the learning from the initiative to develop an enabling environment for children to play in the city. It will be great if our cities could work for children too and engage them while working on such a strategy.
Playing is an easy way through which kids can learn, grow, and explore the world around them. In bustling city environments where green spaces are shrinking, providing opportunities for play becomes even more crucial.