ABSTRACT
This book represents a rights-based approach to the correlation between play and health in childhood. It makes the case that play is fundamental to our humanity, and that the child’s right to health and development (UNCRC Article 24) cannot be satisfied without also the fulfillment of their right to play (UNCRC Article 31). There is an established qualitative evidence base for play as a key contributor to optimum physical health and mental well-being throughout the lifespan: for its protective function in the face of adversity, and for its potential as an agent of recovery from physical, mental, and social stress. It is now imperative to connect what is known about the benefits of play with its potential to address the pressing health needs of the youngest generation. The book presents a robust argument for the importance of childhood play ‘for health’s sake’, which can be used by those working in health, education, and community services to advocate for the child’s right to play and to promote opportunities and resources which will allow them to do so.
