The importance of play cannot be underestimated when considering the physical and emotional wellbeing of our tamariki.

This month, a collaboration between Sport New Zealand and Sport Canterbury's Healthy Families Ōtautahi has begun, with the goal of finding out more about how we play, and how play can promote emotional and physical wellbeing in our communities. 

According to Sport Canterbury Chief Executive Julyan Falloon, "Play is the initial stage of learning and development in children's lives. It helps them make sense of the world in which they are living, who they are, where they are and why they are."

Sport New Zealand defines play as intrinsically motivated and freely chosen with no set outcome. 

"Effectively, this means we do not have to have direct adult involvement in play experiences or opportunities," Falloon adds.

Recent levels of play have fallen into decline due to shifting cultural values, denser urbanisation and as a result, fears about children's safety. 

To combat this, Sport New Zealand is working to preserve and enhance play in our communities and asking the question: How might we spark a lifelong love of being active for tamariki through quality play experiences? A fundamental goal was set to formulate what play looks like in our communities and how we should facilitate play within these communities. 

Sport Canterbury's Healthy Families Ōtautahi, alongside Sport New Zealand, is hosting Play Huddles locally and regionally, to give communities a chance to be heard. With community engagement at its core, the goal is to develop insights and invoke meaningful conversations around play with the purpose of supporting strategic conversations and influencing neighbourhoods.

Canterbury's Regional Sports Trust will be the first region to host these Play Huddles. Dave Jeffrey, Healthy Families Ōtautahi Manager, says of the opportunity: "It's enabling us to bring key stakeholders and action partners together to work collectively to enhance and prioritise the importance of play. It has accelerated our engagement with communities regionally and locally, and shown the diverse range of people who are keen to work and engage in play."

For the purpose of the huddles, Healthy Families Ōtautahi recruited regional professionals working in the field of play as well as local councils for their input as to how we can reach our goal in establishing a more strategic approach to play. 

Professionals representing diverse backgrounds gathered at the University of Canterbury and the Christchurch City Council Civic Building to connect and engage with colleagues working directly or indirectly in play at community, local and regional levels. Individuals with decades of experience in architecture, landscaping, education, childcare, sport and recreation, and social services were enthusiastic about sharing their insights into the world of play, from different perpsectives. 

Sport Canterbury's Healthy Families is looking at locally driven ways to enhance play opportunities for tamariki. An example of this is the play pods offered across Ōtautahi Christchurch used as a tool to advocate for the physical and emotional wellbing of our tamariki. 

To view the final report: click here 

To find out more, visit: Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch

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Article added: Tuesday 18 February 2020