A Playful Pod

Season 3 episode 6,

Lets get into this...

Summary:

Children have the right to life up until the age of 18 but there is a mixed view of when a child’s ‘life’ starts. 

You can be employed as a full time play worker and that is your title but there are also professions where you can be a play worker in a non play worker setting, where your role isn’t labelled that but it’s involved. Eg. In a prison, hospital, nursery 

Play in the midst of a natural disaster can shed hope in the situation

Gender has been enforced through toys and branding. Eg. nurf guns released nurf rebel for girls, couldn’t they have used a normal nurf gun? Society has shaped a lot of mindsets with toys etc. 

a little boy might have been pushing a pram because he’s seen dad do it. But it’s seen as a girls toy because of the femininity. 

The right to play shows the importance of play in a kids life. Although the emphasis on education is higher than play. Okay is often seen as a reward in schools but it’s a child’s right. There is a lot of discussion around whether it’s right to take away their play if it’s their right and the amount it’s limited in their day whilst at school etc.

3 things we learnt:

Difference between play work and play therapy: both have a different motivation behind play; play therapy is used for therapeutic aspect, using play as a tool to help a child work through trauma, but play worker will provide a space for a child to play but with no agenda or outcome in mind as it’s their right to play. 

Children have their own set of rights! 

But they aren’t in legislation so means they aren’t necessarily enforced. 

Children have the right to life, survival and development, freedom from abuse and neglect, education and the right to play. 

Difference between a ‘being’ and a ‘becoming’ child: a being child is they are being a child right now, and becoming is what they will become in the future. A lot of education is preparing a child for their future. And seen as they are only valued for what they will become as an adult but you should just let them be a child when they are. 

Challenge:

Sign a petition in regards to children’s rights