Childcare Professionals Learn to Play with Fire

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 04/03/2008

Childcare professionals will be literally playing with fire tomorrow afternoon as they launch a new play strategy at a one day conference at the Longfield Suite and St Mary's Park.

The conference aims to show that risk in play is essential to a child's development and explain how it can be introduced in an imaginative and manageable way within childcare and school settings.

Eleni Ioannides said: "I think it would be true to say that most parents will do their best to protect children from the risks we see as part of everyday life but we want to make sure that whilst they are cared for they don't lose out their sense of fun and adventure. We want to be seen as a council that actually encourages children to be adventurous. Play is so very important; its nature's training for life".

The morning's events sees the launch of the Borough's new Play Policy and guest speakers at the event will include Buzz Hawkins - the writer, producer and performer behind 'The Bradshaw's'. Workshops and activities will be held throughout the afternoon and participants will re-discover the child in them by learning and playing over 40 games designed to inspire children and youngsters.

Other events include fire play which will equip play workers with the knowledge of how to safely bring fun, exciting and informative fire activities into their play settings through learning how to build a bonfire and discussing folklore and the need to respect the natural environment.

Executive Member for Children and Young People Diana Ashworth said; "This policy will have a positive impact on play settings, outdoor play areas and communities throughout Bury. We want to offer children and young people opportunities to take acceptable risks, to involve themselves in situations that push against the boundaries of their own capacities in environments that are demanding and stimulating"
 
"It's a challenging task but the potential rewards for the people of Bury are huge. When you think of the difference challenging and interesting play activities can have on helping children and young people learn all sorts of valuable lessons like teamwork, cooperation and trust you know that your helping them to learn skills they will put to good use throughout their lives."   

The policy has been developed by the Team Bury Play Partnership and commits Bury to improving play opportunities for all children and young people throughout Bury.