Active Travel and Play
Active Travel and Play work to promote active outdoor play and active travel in children and their families as a health enhancing physical activity.
Play, especially unstructured outdoor play is vitally important for a child's development. It helps them to develop physical and social skills, and contributes to an active and healthy lifestyle which forms good habits for later life.
Publications
Routes to play
This is a new guide for local authorities and other organisations managing outdoor play space, on ensuring children and young people can get to play areas actively and independently.
Download Routes to play (pdf)
Download news release (pdf)
Routes to play is currently only available electronically.
Active play and travel
This information sheet gives a review of research and guidance on the benefits of independent active play and active mobility in childhood.
Download Active play and travel (pdf)
Why play?
This leaflet explains why active outdoor play is essential for children, including facts and suggestions.
Download Why play? (pdf)
Active Travel and Play South West (AT play SW)
Active Travel and Play are running a regional programme with an initial demonstration focus in Bournemouth and Poole.
See the AT play SW page for further information.
Policy support and recommendations
To realise the vision of routes to play spaces being safe and accessible for all children and young people, local authorities should take account of The Play Strategy as well as the guidance mentioned above from Active Travel and Play.
- Department for children, schools and families (December 08) The Play Strategy (pdf)
- Play England (August 08) Design for Play: A Guide for designing successful play spaces (pdf)
- Play England (August 08) Places to Go: Promoting better mobility, transport and travel for children and young people (pdf)
Why is active outdoor play important?
- it helps children to reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day
- children love it - research has shown that 80% of children prefer to play outdoors
- carrying out regular, enjoyable physical activity as a child helps to form good habits as an adult, helping to reach the recommended levels of physical activity as an adult
- it helps children develop physical and social skills
- it promotes physical and mental wellbeing
- it gives children freedom from school and other structured activities and therefore helps develop creativity.
For further information please contact play@sustrans.org.uk
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