he long school summer holidays are upon us and for parents of young children that usually means working hard to ensure they can play happily and safely.
But when it comes to safe, stimulating and adventurous play, however, there is help at hand and this year’s National Playday in Cardiff is offering everyone low-cost or no-cost activities that children can enjoy.
National Playday has been a fixture of the summer calendar since 1991 and as well as a celebration of children’s rights to play, it is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in their lives.
So come along, have some fun, take part in activities and gather some great ideas to take away and try at home over the summer!
This year’s event takes place on Wednesday, August 2 and its theme is ‘Playing on a Shoestring’. At the Cardiff event, taking place in Heath Park from 1-4pm, there will be fun for children of all ages and all the activities associated with Playday are free to enjoy!
Cardiff Council’s Children’s Play Services team and its partners will be at the centre of the field near the miniature railway offering opportunities to enjoy loose parts play and junk modelling, arts and crafts, ‘old-school’ games and sensory elemental play – getting up close with the natural world around us.
And there’ll be other organisations on hand, too, in tents and gazebos around the site, encouraging parents and children to have as much fun as possible, without breaking the bank.
Cllr Peter Bradbury, the Council’s Cabinet member responsible for supporting young people, said this year’s event promised to be the best yet staged. “National Playday has long been a key event for our Children’s Play Services team and everyone has worked hard this year to ensure it offers some great ideas about how your children can be kept entertained during the long school holidays ‘on a shoestring’.
“We want to demonstrate that play is fundamental for children’s enjoyment of childhood and vital for their health, wellbeing and development.”
