Neighbourhood Play Networks
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The Neighbourhood Play Network is an exciting community lead project focused on PLAY! We want to team up with local parents and community members to get children outside playing and to create some awesome neighbourhood play days on their street.
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We have multiple Play Champions across Logan, and to date have supported the creation and continuation of four Neighbourhood Play Networks in Eagleby, Kingston and Woodridge.
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These Play Networks have had many outcomes, they support children to thrive in all areas of health and wellbeing. Children and adults report stigma being eroded and neighbourhood pride flourished Increased local agency and feelings of empowerment. Other observations include reduced sedentary behaviour, increased social connections, reduced residency turn-over, increased local trust and reduced power bills
Neighbourhood play benefits are transferred to other areas of children's lives such as school, friends and extracurricular activities
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The Australian Institute of Play is committed to supporting local play champions (any adult willing to increase play in their community). Click HERE to see our framework for this project!
If you would like to know more about Neighbourhood Play Networks and meet some local Play Champions, head over to the Neighbourhood Play Networks Facebook page.
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Other Neighbourhood Play Networks
Benefits of Neighbourhood Play
I know everyone and know if something bad happens around the street, I have some people that can actually help me with it and I know pretty much everyone on the street.
Alice - 9 years old
What motivates you...?
There are so many kids in the area, but they don't seem to know each other. I know that my best memories from childhood are of being outside with the neighbourhood kids, exploring and having fun. So I say..... let's make childhood great again!
Kristen O'Brien - Adult
Benefits of Neighbourhood Play
If I could go back in time and change one thing I would probably come out to play on the street a lot earlier.
Alice - 9 years old
What motivates you...?
Allowing her to make friends and connect before school. We usually go out of our area to play and I want her to meet local children so she feels more comfortable when she starts school.
Terese Tobin - Adult
Benefits of Neighbourhood Play
We use to just stay indoors all the time and now it's just interesting the come outside and not on technology and stuff. Good thing for me is that I have more people talk with about my person stuff if I want to talk with them or gonna let it go and ask people who are very understanding.
Taya - 11 years old
What motivates you...?
My twins have just turned 4, and one of them is special needs (Autism). However, creating a safe play space in the neighbourhood would be a great idea for us next year. The children will be getting old enough to connect with their neighbourhood and community in a way that is a step up and beyond their early playgroup years.
Bec Pump - Adult
What motivates you...?
My daughter needs to play, a lot more! She doesn't always want to play by herself. To have a play network right outside our front door would be gold.
Terese Tobin - Adult
Benefits of Neighbourhood Play
Creating friendships, experiencing new things, learning about people from different backgrounds and gaining a bigger perspective of the world. Being outside, being in the sun, all the mental and physical health benefits.
Terese Tobin - Adult
Benefits of Neighbourhood Play
There's so much people now, and we all know each other. It's good we can get to know them better cause you can make friends. Incase you lose your friends at school. Then you have someone behind you, have someone along the way with you when you're lonely. You can have someone to comfort you when you're sad.
Alice - 9 years old