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Info hereA thought-provoking analysis of our attitudes towards children and risk in society, this was an early source of inspiration that help shaped the Playing Out project.
A snapshot of what it’s like growing up in the UK, seen through the eyes of nine very different children.
A wonderful, classic 1930’s tale by Arthur Ransome of children free to roam in boats and on islands in the Lake District. Lots more in the series.
Written by one of Playing Out’s Directors, this is an exciting story of discovery for anyone who cares about learning, play, nature and the wild. See her website here
Published by Ken Garland, British design legend and a keen supporter of Playing Out, this is a beautiful limited-edition book of childhood drawings by his daughter Ruth, remembering touching and funny moments of free play with her ‘gang’. You can order it from Pudkin Books
Founder of the Playborhood ‘movement’ in the US, Mike Lanza documents his own and others’ efforts to resist the tide of increased car-dominance and create more people-friendly and playable neighbourhoods.
Another major inspiration, Jane Jacob’s classic 1961 text turns conventional city and transport planning ‘wisdom’ on its head and looks at common-sense ways we could be making our cities better places to live, work and play. Chapter 4, ‘The Use of Sidewalks: Assimilating Children’ particularly looks at the importance of making space for play in our streets.
David Engwicht, of ‘mental speed bump’ fame, brings insight, imagination and playfulness to the question of how we make our streets safer and more people-friendly. We hope he would approve of Playing Out!
Play is fundamental to children’s health, wellbeing and development. Yet in the modern world, their space and opportunity to play is under threat. This is the first book to look in detail at children’s play within public policy. Using the UK government’s play strategy for England (2008-10) as a detailed case study, it explores states’ obligations to children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the General Comment of 2013.
Includes a chapter by Helen Jarvis of Newcastle University, using Playing Out as a case study for the concept of ‘DIY urbanism’.
Bringing together authors from a range of academic disciplines and research backgrounds – united as standard-bearers for the child’s right to play – and set against a backdrop evoking play’s critical essence, this book documents the rise and fall of an explosive period of political interest in play in the UK.
Includes a chapter by Alice Ferguson and Dr Angie Page – Supporting healthy street play on a budget: a winner from every perspective.
Book by a US/Swedish parent about the Scandinavian culture of outdoor play and bringing it to the US.
A book that debunks the idea that parents affect children’s personalities, and puts the case that their environment outside the home is far more important.
A powerful call for society to remember children’s deep need for freedom and belonging