Why does the world’s  most successful Treaty, the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child, include the Right to Play?   Why is so much emphasis given by educators, doctors, researchers etc to this?

Play is as old as humanity, back over 3.7 million years ago our distant ancestors walked in Tanzania, there is a child walking beside an adult, no doubt curious and anxious to play ….

It is because for the Child, its Play may be ‘messing about’, Fun. seemingly aimless, something every child does without thinking whether it has to or not, but it is also just about the most important thing it does.

Play is about Learning, about trial and error, about discovery, about relationships, indeed about exploring the world around it.   Not for nothing has Play been called ‘the child’s natural business’.

Imagine a world where suddenly something stops all our adult activity in its tracks.  Who would do the ‘next thing’ and what would that be?   Children might just Play?   They do in every conceivable situation and circumstance as soon as they are able, they colonise, explore, learn, adapt.        

And yet, we adults have ensured that much of the child’s play environment has been degraded and compromised – residential streets occupied by the car,  children’s freedom to play restricted by fears, intolerance, adult agendas and pressures.   Their health is compromised as is their healthy development.

The role of Fair  Play for Children is to keep that right and obligation before society, and to encourage people to fight for its advance.  We seek your support, membership, ACTION.      We are a Campaign for The Child’s Right to Play – JOIN US!