What is Play?

If we think back to our childhood, play is spontaneous, tamariki-led, fun, accessible, social, and freely chosen with no predetermined outcome. It is usually highly active with elements of challenge and risk that test boundaries in an imaginative way. Play allows tamariki the space to practice, learn, and develop the skills they need to be active for life. These include fundamental movement skills, self-directed creativity/innovation, social and emotional connections, resilience, independence, leadership, and informed risktaking.

Why is Play Important?​​​​​​

Play allows children to experience fun, joy and laughter in a way that is important to them. It’s also where they develop and practice life skills. 

The positive benefits of play include: 

• being physically active in a fun way that develops fundamental movement skills 
• encouraging self-directed creativity and innovation 
• improving social and emotional connection 
• improving a young person’s understanding of their relationship with the physical environment 
• improving resilience, independence and leadership by determining their own outcomes 
• aiding better decision-making based around elements of challenge and risk. ​​​​​​​

Read more about the importance of PLAY here.