Fun and games all the way will be the order of the day next Wednesday 5 August as Manchester celebrates National Play Day with a packed programme of fantastic free activities for children and young people in the city’s parks.
National Play Day is a country-wide celebration of a child’s right to play – a right which is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The day has a special significance locally this year for Manchester coming off the back of the city earning recognition from UNICEF as a Child Friendly City in June.
The theme of this year’s National Play Day is ‘Play – here, there, everywhere!’ and a whole series of free activities and events will be taking place right across the city on a drop-in basis throughout the day – with over a hundred different activity sessions taking place in the city’s parks, libraries, community centres, and youth clubs.
Two big Family Fun Days are also taking place on the day – one in south Manchester at Platt Fields Park and one in north Manchester at Boggart Hole Clough.
Activities at Platt Fields Park will run from 11 am – 1 pm and will include sports coaching, circus skills, cycling taster sessions, arts and crafts, and story-telling. There will also be free fruit snacks and free books for children who go along.
Over at Boggart Hole Clough activities will run from 11am – 2 pm, with games, hands-on experiences, interactive activities, demonstrations, information stalls and the chance to meet local organisations and find out more about what they do.
Playing with others is an important part of growing up for children and young people of all ages. It helps children learn about themselves and the world around them, and helps them make friends, as well as improving their language and communication skills.
Play is also a great confidence booster and stress buster, improving physical and mental health, helping children to relax and to connect with other people and the world around them – and importantly works just as well for tiny tots as it does for teens.
For more information about National Play Day activities in Manchester visit:Â manchester.gov.uk/play-day
