Natural Play
As our towns and roads become even busier, having green space to play is essential. Recent decades have seen a move away from outdoor street games and roaming to more controlled play environments such as playgrounds and clubs. The emphasis now is often on cooperation in play and providing a harmonious and stimulating environment. Experts increasingly highlight that this doesn’t recognise the complex collaboration that active play – such as play fighting for example- can have.
Outdoor play is essential for physical and mental health; it builds fitness; stamina and resilience. It is more than a place to let off steam, it’s an ever-changing learning environment. Outdoor and less supervised play help’s children learn to assess and take risks – a skill that is critical to adults. Playing outdoors with others in the neighbourhood, helps teach the social skills to interact with older children – in a world where children’s organised activities are more age segregated.
The natural world is a great source of inspiration. Many of us recall enjoying being outdoors as children – whether it’s memories of mud pies, puddle jumping, rose petal perfume or den building. Whatever the season there is an activity to suit – snowball fights, kicking leaves, playing conkers, of just lolloping on the grass imagining pictures in the clouds.
Many of the games children play have historic importance. Childhood is a relatively recent concept and still varies greatly in different cultures. In 19870 (the same year that the Bailey Hill was bought for the people of Mold), the Elementary Education Act set the framework for schooling children aged 5-12 years. Another act 10 years later reinforced that education was compulsory for children aged 5-10 years old. Although this brought more children into school, it had a negative impact on the use of the Welsh language because English was the main language used.
Whatever age they left school, these children, just like children today, were learning skills needed in the working world, such as the manual dexterity to hold tools, the stamina and judgment for physical work and the ability to think strategically and interact with others.
Although jobs today may be different, many games children still play refer back to previous professions and norms in society. You can claim territory of a hill like the ‘King of the castle’, march like the grand old Duke of York, shout ‘Queenie, Queenie, who’s got the ball, or try to avoid capture by an enemy while playing hide and seek. Bailey Hill’s role may have changed from defending the town’s people from invaders but it’s natural environment still has a vital role in protecting their well-being.
In an era where children have fewer and fewer opportunities to spontaneously connect with nature, it’s key that we protect, value and use the green spaces we are luckily enough to have.
