Design your own playground: Ministers launch website to get kids views on play
043/08
20 May 2008
Joint DCMS/DCSF press release
Ministers today launched a fun, interactive website and poster campaign to encourage children to give their views on play and play areas as part of the first ever national consultation on children’s play.
The website and posters give children the chance to design their own play space using playground favourites such as see-saws and round-a-bouts are mixed with more modern structures such as wooden climbing walls.
On the website children can choose from a variety of settings to reflect their local areas, with a choice of urban, rural or sports fields on which to build their ideal play area. In order to add equipment to their play space children must answer a series of questions around the idea of play. The more questions answered the more points they earn to spend on designing their own play space.
The views of children and young people will play a crucial part in this consultation, and it is important that as many as possible are able to contribute their ideas. This short, online activity is aimed at 8 to 13 year olds, will ensure that children can give their views while at the same time being creative and having fun. All the consultation questions have been drafted using child–friendly language.
Minister for Children and Young People Kevin Brennan said:
“I want to know what play spaces children actually want. The website and posters are designed to inspire children to get involved in our consultation and tell us what makes play fun for them. We want to ensure that their ideas and needs are at the heart of everything we are doing to create safe, child-friendly public spaces and to make this country the best place in the world to grow up.”
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said:
“I want all children to get outdoors and to enjoy being active. By making it fun for children to answer consultation questions, we can hopefully get as many responses as possible. We’re going to be developing some fantastic play areas and I hope this will revive outdoor play for children up and down the country. This is a great way for kids to have their say on play.”
The consultation on children’s play was announced by Secretaries of State Ed Balls and Andy Burnham on 3 April. The initiative means that children across the country will get an extra 3,500 play areas and 30 local authorities will get £2 million each to build new adventure playgrounds, as part of a £235 million Government investment in children’s play.
For more information or to design your own play area visit the DCSF website.
Notes to Editors
1. The Government’s consultation ‘Fair Play’ was launched on the 3 April by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
2. Minister for Children and Young People Kevin Brennan will also be discussing ‘Fair Play’ and the importance of designing child-friendly spaces at today’s Play England National Conference. For a copy of the speech please contact the DCSF press office on 020 7925 6789.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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