Play crucial to health and wellbeing of nation

Play enriches the lives of children and plays a fundamental role in young people's wellbeing and development, a major international conference has heard.

More than 550 delegates from 41 countries have gathered this week for The International Play Association World Conference at Glasgow Caledonian University, which runs from 6-9 June.

Natalie Don MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, said: "We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up, and we understand how important play is for children and young people’s growth, development and wellbeing.

"Hosting the conference is a great honour. It is a fantastic recognition of the importance that the Scottish Government places on play."

On day one of IPA Glasgow 2023, children from Glasgow’s Lorne Street Primary School took to the stage to quiz Professor Philip D. Jaffé, Vice Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

They gathered questions from children in Nigeria, India, Brazil, Taiwan, Canada and the USA.

Delegates also explored how children's lives have been affected by global economic trends, environmental change and the COVID-19 pandemic, during a series of breakout sessions.

Professor John McKendrick, Chair of Conference Programming and co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Unit at Glasgow Caledonian, said: "Our childhood mem

es the lives of children.

"Of course, play can help children learn, but it is much more important than that. This gathering of international experts is an opportunity for us to think about how we can facilitate more play and richer play. We need to recover what we have lost."

ories tend to revolve around play, much of this is free play beyond the gaze of adults. We seem to have forgotten that play enrich