As a child we would ride our bikes, play tag and football across our street. As long as we went in for mealtimes – we could play most of the day, every day.
But nowadays, it is increasingly difficult for kids to play out – a mixture of safety issues, excessive screen time usage and lack of community spirit means that a lot of kids are missing out.
So there’s a National Playday – yes, a day that’s all about playing! Whilst playing is fun, it also has numerous benefits for children and adults from improving fine motor skills to increasing fitness and confidence in the community – it also gives a pride of place and let’s children’s imaginations run wild.
What’s not to love?
So as part of my blog and vlogs for Yorkshire Evening Post this summer – I decided to actively get playing! I know how bad I am over the summer holidays when it comes to stopping my chores/work/stress and focus on playing with the kids, so I have to go out and do things – at least one thing a day.
As we live in Wakefield, West Yorkshire we often go to Pugneys and Thornes Park for free days out.
Earlier on in Summer, I popped down to another favourite free day-out place – The Hepworth Wakefield as they too were celebrating National Playday with a fun-filled day of free crafts, den building and wooden sculpture climbing. They also have a lovely clean adventure playground.
I hold my hands up that I’m not your typical “art gallery type” but with daily free crafts over summer, a decent café and picnic area – what’s not to love?! (Oh and they’ve just won Art Gallery of the Year – so they’re doing something right.).
As I also teach kids and adults dance – I got involved with more playing, moving and crafting at Soul Portobello – an awesome community festival in Wakefield organised by Inspiring Communities and St Helen’s Church. Again, it’s all free and runs every Thursday in August from 12-2.30pm.
Where are your favourite places to play? Comment below or tweet us @LeedsNews @MamaMeiBlog – you may appear in one of our Summer blogs or vlogs for Yorkshire Evening News.
You can also join the conversation with the #YorkshireFamilyHour twitter chat on Tuesdays at 8pm.
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