Play is crucial for the socio-emotional and socio-cognitive development of children and young people, according to Sussex experts. Photo by Jay Chen, Unsplashed

Leading developmental psychologists from the University of Sussex have highlighted the huge social benefits of children having the opportunity to play – especially following two years of restrictions due to COVID-19 – ahead of National Playday this Wednesday, 3 August. 

Professor Robin Banerjee, Head of the University of Sussex’s School of Psychology, who was one of a group of UK mental health experts to make headlines in May 2020, when they called on then education secretary Gavin Williamson to prioritise play following the first national lockdown, voices support for the national day for play, which celebrates children’s right to play, as well as promotes the importance of play in children’s lives, saying: 

“As we continue to navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, much has been said about the need to help children catch up on ‘lost learning’ in relation to academic skills.  But we also need to support children’s development in a much broader sense.  Evidence shows that children’s mental health has been affected by the global pandemic, and we must provide ample opportunities for children to build and maintain positive social relationships.  

“Play is crucial for the socio-emotional and socio-cognitive development of children and young people.  It serves as a key context within which children establish and develop their peer relationships, which in turn are so important for the development of their social and emotional skills, mental health, and wellbeing.”  

Playday, which has the theme ‘All to play for – building opportunities for all children’ this year, encourages families, communities, and organisations large and small, to consider how they can build better opportunities for all children to play to support their physical and mental health, improve social skills and help them connect with their communities.  

Playday 2022 also sees the official launch of a new University of Sussex campus playground and basketball court. Part of ongoing work to make the University even more family-friendly, the facilities are part of the new, £200m West Slope Development, one of the most ambitious programmes undertaken by the University in recent years to help transform the experience of campus life for staff, students and guests. 

Robert Hutton, Director of Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services at the University of Sussex, said: "Providing engaging, safe and, importantly, fun, spaces for our campus families to play is hugely important to the University, and so we're delighted to have invested in creating this fantastic new playground as part of our West Slope development.  

 “It's wonderful that we will be officially opening the playground to coincide with Playday, an initiative that celebrates the value of play for physical and mental wellbeing, as we hope that this campus playground and a second West Slope residence one, will be of enormous benefit to the wellbeing of our campus children for years to come."