Explore Play Wales
During 2023 we produced and circulated a variety of new publications to support and inform those who have an interest in, or a responsibility for children’s play. Here is a summary of the publications – which are all available to freely download.
We look forward to sharing more new resources with you throughout 2024.
Play for Wales Magazine
Playful places
Issue 60 (Winter 2022)
This issue highlights examples of children enjoying playful moments in a range of places – from public spaces and family attractions such as zoos and museums to places of uncertainty like hospitals and adult prisons.
25 years of Play Wales
Issue 61 (Spring | Summer 2023)
This issue focuses on 25 years of Play Wales, and highlights recent key pieces of work that we have been involved in. It’s a celebration of our collaborative work campaigning for children’s right to play.
Report
Ministerial Review of Play Steering Group Report – A Play Wales summary
This summary gives an overview of the Ministerial Review of Play Steering Group Report. It sets out the context for the review – explaining the importance of play for children and emphasising the legal duty in Wales to protect and promote play.
Research
What children say about play in Wales: 2022
This report, written by David Dallimore, provides a summary of information collected by local authorities across Wales as part of their Play Sufficiency Assessments in 2022. It presents an analysis of responses from nearly 7,000 children and teenagers in Wales where they tell us about what’s good and what’s not so good about the play opportunities in their local area.
Briefing
Playing and being well: A review of recent research into children’s play, social policy and practice, with a focus on Wales
This briefing note, written by Wendy Russell, Mike Barclay and Ben Tawil, introduces our forthcoming Playing and being well: A review of recent research into children’s play, social policy and practice, with a focus on Wales literature review.
Film
This is why play is so important
This film features children across Wales, who tell us what play means to them. The film portrays why play is vital to children’s development, health, wellbeing and happiness. Narrated by the actor Matthew Rhys, it celebrates play and highlights its importance for every child.