NATIONAL PLAY DAY is the annual celebration of children’s right to play.

What’s play?

• Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital totheir development. Through play, children explore the world around them and develop and practice skills.
• Play is essential for physical and emotional growth, for mental, intellectual and educational development, and for acquiring social and behavioural skills.
• Play is a generic term applied to a wide range of activities and behaviours that are satisfying to the child, creative for the child and freely chosen by the child.
• Children's play may or may not involve equipment or have an end product. Children play on their own and with others. Their play may be boisterous and energetic or quiet and contemplative, light-hearted or very serious.

For the past few years NDC has organised an event on National Play Day. This year the theme was make time! Where everyone is asked to make time for play, from parents and carers to teachers and professionals.

The event was held on Wednesday 5^th August at Douglas Green Park and was planned and organised by Debi Young and Kerry Williams from Big Steps Playgroup, Graham Cooper from Oliver’s Youth Club and supported by Sandra Young from New Deal for Communities.

On the day children enjoyed making maps which were then used for a treasure hunt around the park with prizes for all the children.  Sports games and races were run by Sports Development, children could have their pictures taken and put into a key ring and there was a tuck shop with goodies for the children.  Children’s entertainers were there to face paint and balloon modelling and there were inflatable slides and bouncy castles.  The fire brigade were on site for children to go aboard and Gears provided a driving simulator for the young people to test their skills at driving, and badge making and painting were also on offer.

The day was a huge success with over 200 people attending, feedback received was very positive, below are just some of the comments made on the day:

• I think it was good helping out with making badges.  I hope next year is the same (yp)

• Very good same again next week yipeeeeeeeee

• It’s a fantastic day and the kids enjoyed the activities which were there.  Would recommend it again

• A great day had by both my little girls, lovely to have something for the kids to do makes a nice change

•  It was fun for the children and every thing was free which is good

• Loved the treasure hunt, kept the kids entertained running around the park finding clues

A big thank you to all those involved in making the day special for the children.  

We hope to continue running Play Day events with local groups taking overall responsibility for planning and organising the day, if your children cannot wait until next year for another fun day click on the link below to download the play day pal to colour!