Child's play? Not so simple. Play is now recognised as one of the most important factors facilitating childhood development.

Unfortunately, play still isn't given the sort of status it should have. Town planners, national policy-makers, developers, even the general public tend to be oblivious to the need to provide for play. Finally a new organisation which promotes the child's right to play has been launched. Sugradh's objectives include: raising awareness of the role of play in children's development; working towards a national policy on play; and supporting local groups in providing play opportunities. It sees play as the main business of children's lives, recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Sugradh is calling for appropriate training for all staff working in play settings; for planners to provide designated play situations for children and young people; and for adequate safety standards.

For further information and membership forms contact: Sugradh, c/o Springfield, 3 Hollybrook Road, Bray Co. Wicklow.