Children’s right to play - Working Paper No. 57 - An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Children’s right to play explores play as a specific element of Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, distinguishing play from rest, leisure, and recreation. Drawing on contemporary research, it argues that play is fundamental to children’s health and well-being and should be recognized, respected, and promoted by States Parties and adults. It also examines how adults’ attitudes shape understandings of play and how the CRC has often overlooked play as a standalone right.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages80

Reading Time3 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

Executive summary

Understandings of play

Chapter 1: Introduction and contextualisation

Chapter 2: Understandings of play

Chapter 3: Play as self-protection

Chapter 4: Play as participation in everyday life

Chapter 5: Providing for conditions for play to take place

References

working papers in Early Childhood Development 57 Children’s right to play An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide By Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell Cover photo: © Theresa Casey Design: Valetti, vormgeving en communicatie, The Hague, The Netherlands ([www.valetti.nl](www.valetti.nl)) Editing and proofreading: Green Ink ([www.greenink.co.uk](www.greenink.co.uk)) 57 working papers in Early Childhood Development Children’s right to play An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide By Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell December 2010 Copyright © 2010 by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Netherlands. The Bernard van Leer Foundation encourages fair use – except modifications – of this material. Proper citation is requested. This publication may not be resold for profit. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. About the authors Wendy Russell is a part-time senior lecturer in play and playwork at the University of Gloucestershire, England, working on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She also works part-time as an independent consultant on children’splay and playwork. She has undertaken several roles in the UK play sector over the past 35 years, initially as a playworker in adventure playgrounds in London, then mostly in training, education and research. Her research interests focus on the role of adults in supporting children’s play across policy, planning and practice. Recent publications include ‘Play fora Change. Play, Policy and Practice: A review of contemporary perspectives’(with Stuart Lester, published by National Children’s Bureau, 2008), and co-editor of ‘Playwork Voices’, published by Playwork London in 2007. Stuart Lester is a senior lecturer in play and playwork at the University of Gloucestershire, and an independent play adviser. He has worked for many years on adventure playgrounds and local community-based play projects in England. His research interests include children’s playful productions of time/space, and the relationship with adult understandings of play and policy interventions. Published works include ‘Play, Naturally’(with Martin Maudsley, 2007) and ‘Play for a Change. Play, Policy and Practice: A review of contemporary perspectives’(with Wendy Russell, 2008), as well as contributions to several play and playwork publications. Citation Lester, S. and Russell, W. (2010) Children’s right to play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide. Working Paper No. 57. The Hague, The Netherlands: Bernard van Leer Foundation ISSN 1383-7907 ISBN 978-90-6195-121-6 Contents Acknowledgements v Executive summary vii Chapter 1: Introduction and contextualisation 1 Chapter 2: Understandings of play 7 Chapter 3: Play as self-protection 15 Chapter 4: Play as participation in everyday life 27 Chapter 5: Providing for conditions for play to take place 41 References 53 vii Acknowledgements We are very grateful to the International Play Association: Promoting the Child’s Right to Play (IPA) for giving us the opportunity to research and write this paper, and to the Bernard Van Leer Foundation for financial support and publishing. Thanks also to the project advisory group, whose contacts, knowledge, comments and support have been invaluable: Theresa Casey, Valerie Fronczek, Roger Hart, Ric McConaghy, Susie See Ching Mey and Jan Van Gils. In addition, we would like to thank everyone who briefly became members of an international resource group, in an attempt to widen our thinking and provide information on children’s play that may counter the predominance of minority world research: Sheridan Bartlett, Sudeshna Chatterjee, Louise Chawla, The Children and Young People Defending our Right to Play Action Group in Samulalí, Nicaragua, Kreangkrai Chaimuangdee, Yue-jan Pan,

FAQs

What does Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child emphasize about play?

It recognizes children’s right to rest and leisure, to engage in age-appropriate play and recreational activities, and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

Why does the working paper treat play as more than rest, leisure, or recreation?

It frames play as a discrete element interwoven into children’s daily lives and not controlled by adults.

How does the paper argue play benefits children?

It uses contemporary research to show play is fundamental to children’s health and well-being, supporting the case for recognizing play as a right.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret