Category Archives: Outdoor play

Outdoor play

Exploring some of London’s most playful spaces and places

Posted on September 22, 2011 | 3 comments

Four girls in Spa FieldsWe only had ten or twelve people take part over the two days, but I’m still buzzing after last weekend’s Open House play space tours. Why?

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Posted in Outdoor play, Public space, Urbanism

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Taking a balanced approach to risk in childhood: Why and how

Posted on September 14, 2011 | 15 comments

Rosa on a tree swingWhere was your favourite place to play as a child? The chances are, it was out of doors, and out of sight of adults. A place where you felt a sense of freedom and possibility. Where you could follow your impulses and your imagination, even if that led you into situations that were scary, challenging, perhaps even downright dangerous.

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Posted in Child development, Education, Outdoor play, Risk

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What prospects for this playful addition to my neighbourhood?

Posted on September 1, 2011 | 9 comments

Wood Street fountains 1Back in Walthamstow after some time away, we discover that today the Council has opened a refurbished square in our local shopping street. As you can see from the photo, it includes a row of fountains.

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Posted in Outdoor play, Play spaces, Public space

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Want to hear about road closures for play?

Posted on August 5, 2011 | 7 comments

A nice audio news piece on road closures for play, as broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 programme PM on Weds 3 August 2011. Featuring the wonderful people at Bristol’s Playing Out campaign, some local Bristolians, and yours truly.

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Posted in Mobility, Outdoor play, Parenting, Urbanism

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World through a windscreen?

Posted on August 3, 2011 | 15 comments

Today is Playday, the annual play celebration. I am going to take a step back from the festivals, the Council fun days and the PR campaigning, important though they are. Instead, I want to explore one of the reasons why so many children are losing out on the opportunity to play outside in the first place: the car.

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Posted in Mobility, Outdoor play, Parenting, Public policy, Urban planning, Urbanism

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Everyday childhood freedoms? Parents, not experts, have to decide

Posted on July 29, 2011 | 18 comments

1st day at school (parents went too)

Some time ago a father emailed me asking for advice about the freedoms he should grant to his son. I don’t know him, or his son, and don’t know anything about where he lives. Which, by the way, is Melbourne, Australia. Why he might think I would be better placed than him to decide, I have absolutely no idea – and my reply said as much. Continue reading →

18 Comments

Posted in Child development, Learning, Outdoor play, Parenting, Risk

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