Play can help our children recover from the negative effects of the pandemic

The pandemic has had a huge impact on our children. Their world has changed so much, and their ability to adapt to these challenges has never been more important. After a year of living through restrictions and lockdowns, the opportunities for children to play freely, especially with their friends and extended family, has undoubtedly been affected. But what does that mean for their wellbeing, both now and in the future?

Children have a fundamental right to play, as defined by Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Playing allows children to express themselves in their own way, to explore the world around them with creativity and a sense of fun, and to pursue what they would like to do in the moment, for their own reasons.

Play itself is a serious business. Through play, children can imagine different realities; move away from the immediate worries, engage with big life questions, and dream of the future and all that they could be.

As children returned to school this week after restrictions, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (Gosh Charity) released its first-ever State of Play report, surveying more than 2,500 parents of children aged between five and 11 from across the UK. The report looks at the impact of the pandemic on children across the country, through the prism of play.

As a play specialist and the head of play at Gosh, I am not surprised the research shows play has been vital over the past 12 months, with three-quarters (74 per cent) of parents saying that play has “helped their child cope” as the world around them has changed beyond recognition.

I see every day that play offers a safe space to make mistakes, to learn through trial and error, to take measured risks and to build the skills that will empower children to manage risky situations in the future. By adapting as they go, children have the chance to build resilience to change. By choosing how they play, children have the opportunity to take control. Although I use play in my day to day work to help seriously ill children make sense of their diagnosis and treatment, our report shows “play” is vital to every child.

Parents told us Covid-19 tops the list of worries for their children, but a third of parents reported that their child has explored Covid-19 through play.

In a year that has seen us all live through a range of restrictions, we have become less connected with each other in so many ways. This is particularly true for children who have spent months at home, away from the social interaction of their classmates, and unable to go on play dates with their friends.

Children play to process the here and now but the future impact on the younger generation in the world of coronavirus is unknown. It is not surprising that two-thirds of parents (66 per cent) voice concern that the loss of their kids’ freedom to play freely with whom they wish will have a long-term impact on their children’s wellbeing.

At Gosh we see firsthand how play helps seriously ill children to make sense of their feelings and cope with challenging times, it is why Gosh Charity funds the hospital’s dedicated play team. This week sees many children return to school, and I am sure they will again amaze us with their ability to adapt to different surroundings, different rules, and different ways to play.

One of the best ways to support children’s wellbeing is giving them the freedom to play. This is not only relevant in a hospital setting such as Gosh, but for all children as they attempt to cope with whatever challenges they face, including a global pandemic.

Play is a superpower at our children’s fingertips, and a valuable tool parents and carers can use across the country. We must all embrace the power of play, to support the nation’s children in their recovery from negative experiences during the pandemic. There is so much more at stake than just child’s play.

Laura Walsh is head of play at Great Ormond Street Hospital. For more about the State of Play report, visit gosh.org