It’s not strange. It’s play time  #Letsplayeveryday

We just experienced the first national Play Week in Aotearoa. It was running from 7th till 13th of December and it was a week to celebrate all things play. The theme ‘Let’s play every day’ highlights the importance of play for everyone across Aotearoa New Zealand – for tamariki, whānau and communities.

Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency was leading the inaugural Play Week Aotearoa 7-13 December 2020, with the support of Sport NZ. The key idea behind Play Week is to increase awareness of the importance of play in building children and young people’s resilience and wellbeing. The purpose was to encourage parents, caregivers and other adults to play with their kids every day during Play Week Aotearoa.

IPA Aotearoa NZ was, of course supporting the first national Play Week Aotearoa and from December 7-13 we shared some inspirational ideas around play and facts that you might not know about play  We have summarized them all here.

Get those Key messages out!

• Play is the easiest way for our tamariki to stay active.
• 2020 has been a tough year for many, take time out during Play Week to help you connect with your kids, and improve your mental and physical health.
• Play with your kids – it’s fun and helps with their learning and development.
• Provide your kids with lots of opportunities to play during Play Week (and always).
• Encourage your kids to play sometimes on their own and sometimes
  with others, indoors and outside, and in ways that move all of their bodies.
• Play doesn’t need to be formal, structured or cost money.
• Play encourages self-directed creativity and innovation.
• Play is fun and good for the wellbeing of everyone in your whānau.
• It’s not strange, it’s playtime #letsplayeveryday.

Spotlight on amazing play people!

“Active play helps kids with coordination, balance, motor skills and using up their energy, which in turn helps to promote better sleeping habits”

We can’t agree more with the statement of Healthy Kids.

The website of  HealthyKids offers a lot of free and low-cost resources to get your family eating, moving and sleeping well. Explore their recipes, activity ideas, goal chart and more. Check it out!

Māori perspective on Play

Have you ever thought of integrating a Māori perspective into the different Play areas of the home? 

Playcentre Aotearoa has put some learning resources on their website that reflect Māori culture and can be used to help kaiako integrate a Māori perspective into the different Play areas of the home. 

‘Children exploring and participating in cultural customs and waiata and using natural resources in their play is beneficial to their learning and development.’

Try out today those lovely, new and different ways to play! 

Play has been there forever!

For thousands of years, play has been a childhood tradition. Unregulated and unstructured, it has passed from generation to generation. Even during periods of immense challenge, such as the Great Depression and World War II, children found ways to be playful.

Play will always be around, it will never die. Play has too many benefits to do so. 

When was the last time we, as caregivers and parents played an hour with our child? Not meaning sitting and watching while the child isplaying, no, but rather doing exactly what the child wants to do. 
That means if your child wants you to sit in the sandbox with him, you do it. Or if she wants you to dance through the house, you do it. Your presence enables another level of meaningful play to happen.

And if we are honest with ourselves, play is fun and good for the wellbeing of everyone in our whānau.

What do you think the message might be in this Whakataukī?

Could this message be about the potential of a young child to grow, develop and change?

Or, might it suggest that the adze, although small, could fell the largest tree by chipping away at it, suggesting that it may take some time and effort to work away at your goals?

Howsoever you are interpreting this Whakataukī, we know that PLAY is fundamental for children’s growth, development and change. 

We believe that play is the primary vehicle for optimal growth in childhood. When children play, they are developing skills in all areas of development: cognitive, physical, communication, and social/emotional. They practice and reinforce these skills in a way that can’t be achieved through worksheets or screen time.

So let your children play and grow, today and always 

Keen to know more facts about PLAY!