In times of crisis, play is a way for children to process what they are experiencing.

In this current time, with children experiencing the fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic, and for children both directly or indirectly affected by the Ukrainian/Russian crisis, Play Aotearoa wants to draw awareness to the value of PLAY in situations of crisis. We will post in the next couple of days useful resources around this topic.

International Play Association’s  Play in Crisis resources

IPA World developed the International Play Association’s  Play in Crisis resources material for parents and carers originally  in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Now it is available in Ukrainian, about why we should, and how we can, promote children’s play. 

The advice is suitable for playing at home, in temporary accommodation, in shelters and while children are staying at the homes of friends and relatives. 

The key message is to observe and support your child’s play without leading or taking over – to let them play their play

Definitions

The terms “refugee”, “asylum-seeker” and “migrant” are used to describe people who are on the move, who have left their countries and have crossed borders.

The terms “migrant” and “refugee” are often used interchangeably but it is important to distinguish between them as there is a legal difference.

IPA World publication as a way to guide and inform opportunities and possibilities for Access to Play.

This toolkit has been produced to support people and agencies working in crisis situations so that they are better able to understand and support children’s everyday play. It defines situations of crisis as humanitarian, natural and man-made disasters.

The toolkit is underpinned by the recognition that children’s play rights have a strong relationship with the UNCRC as a whole, supporting the realisation of all other rights.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2013, para. eight) has said that article 31 serves to enrich the lives of children and is fundamental to:
• the quality of childhood
• to children’s entitlement to optimum development
• to the promotion of resilience
• to the realisation of other rights.