Adults instinctively feel that playing outside is good for children, but what is actually known about the benefits of play in green spaces? As cities around the world continue to expand, more children are growing up without access to the countryside, or even to parks and gardens. Playtime takes place indoors or in the built environment. What does this mean for childhood, as well as for society as a whole?
Join PEDAL and our panel of experts and practitioners to explore the following questions:
- What impact does play in green spaces have on children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development?
- Is outdoor play different to other types of play?
- Does playing in nature change how children relate to the world around them?
- What can parents and practitioners do to encourage outdoor play and an interest in the natural environment?
Our panellists include:
- Helena Craig, Chairwoman of Black2Nature
- Dr Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, expert on risky play, well-being, and outdoor education in childhood
- Cath Prisk, founder and director of Outdoor People
- Dr Sally Lee, Learning Officer at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden
This panel originally took place on 25th March 2021.
Play in Green Spaces: A PEDAL panel discussion
Click here to watch the panel discussion via our YouTube channel.