Decades of research in child development confirms that young children’s play is linked to positive outcomes in mental health, cognitive and social development as well as fewer behavioural problems.

Despite this consensus, play is becoming hard to access in everyday life, particularly in cities, due to a combination of spatial or environmental and socio-cultural factors.

Increased traffic, dense housing, limited or constrained access to green space and natural environments and heightened concerns about safety and risky play have reduced children’s independent play opportunities outdoors.

Many families rely on structured programs to compensate for these constraints, but these often come with financial costs, scheduling pressures and limited availability.

Play is shaped by systems

Play depends on a set of conditions that must be created and maintained.

Parks and green spaces may be available but not always accessible, safe or inviting. Community programs can be valuable, but they often require registration fees, transportation and time commitments that not all families can manage.

It’s not only up to parents to create play opportunities — urban planning decisions, infrastructure, policy and politics have significant influence. Who gets to play, where they play and how they play are not neutral questions. They are determined by how cities are designed, how resources are distributed and whose needs are prioritized.

When these systems are uneven, opportunities for play are also uneven. Families living in high-density housing may lack access to nearby outdoor spaces. Neighbourhoods with fewer investments in infrastructure may have limited or poorly maintained play areas.

Caregivers working multiple jobs may have less time to facilitate or supervise play.........

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