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Children’s opportunities for play and physical activity are decreasing in cities. Policy stakeholders in Bradford and Tower Hamlets, UK were interviewed to understand the presence and implementation of play in public policy in these areas.
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Target audience
Those working in local authority and municipal public health departments, as well as built environment professionals, with an interest in children’s play and how it can be promoted in the urban environment.
The problem
Regular outdoor play and physical activity are essential for children’s health and development, but urban densification, lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, and policy changes have limited opportunities for this in cities. This has resulted in inadequate activity levels and high childhood obesity rates in urban areas in the UK. Responsibility for this is placed on local councils through public facilities and initiatives, but they often face budget constraints and political challenges.
What we did and why
As part of a wider project scoping the conditions for a school-based intervention to encourage urban children’s free play, we interviewed 9 policymakers and practitioners in Bradford and Tower Hamlets, UK. This was to explore their perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators to play in local policy, and to gain an understanding of what was needed to raise the profile of play on a strategic level to improve children’s access to quality urban play spaces.
Our study’s contribution
This study contributes to the broader discourse on urban design for children, offering insights into how cities can create more inclusive, engaging, and health-promoting environments. It supports and adds to existing literature, finding that the alignment of play initiatives with public health goals, and strong collaboration between local government departments are effective in supporting children’s play on the strategic level. It identifies barriers to play in policy, namely budget constraints and deprioritisation of play.
Impacts for city policy and practice
We outline several recommendations for good practice to promote play in local policy:
• Alignment and coordination across policy areas and local government departments.
• National statutory guidance for including play spaces in new developments.
• The development of a robust local evidence base.
• Leveraging the involvement of knowledgeable, motivated, and ambitious stakeholders.
• Incorporation of meaningful and participatory approaches to engage children and young people in projects by those involved in planning and development.
Further information
Full research article:
Designing play into urban environments: strategic-level challenges and best practice in Bradford and Tower Hamlets, UK by Emily Ranken, Amanda Seims, Hanan Hauari, Nicola Christie, Sally E. Barber and Claire Cameron
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