The Importance of Play - Introducing stormbreak’s Play Moves
By Vicky Randall
Play is often misunderstood, seen as unimportant, the opposite of work, or something reserved for the youngest of children. But play is anything but trivial. It’s a vital part of human development and a recognised right under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989).
“Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” (UNCRC, 1989: 9)
On 11 June 2025, in recognition of the International Day of Play, the Play Commission released its report Everything to Play For - a call to action to ensure every child in England has access to play. The findings are stark: children are spending more time indoors, often sedentary and scrolling alone. A lack of play is contributing to rising obesity, mental health issues, poor social skills, and diminished life opportunities.
Images: The Everything to Play For campaign promotes child-friendly neighbourhoods that encourage outdoor, spontaneous play. (Photos courtesy of the author)
A Movement Towards Play
Sport England’s #PlayTheirWay campaign, launched in 2023, adds to this growing and important movement. It champions child-led approaches in coaching and youth organisations, emphasising voice, choice, and journey as essential ingredients for a child’s development. These efforts affirm a simple truth: play is not just for the early years, it is essential, natural, and a right for every child.
Yet, despite this, opportunities for play in schools are in decline. Since 1995, children in Key Stage 1 have lost 45 minutes of weekly playtime, and those in Key Stage 2 have lost 40 minutes (Clements and Harding, 2022). Increasing curriculum pressures, alongside changing play behaviours and societal acceptance of a more sedentary lifestyle have compounded this loss (Children’s Alliance, 2023).
Introducing the Play Moves
At stormbreak, we believe in the transformative power of playful movement to nurture relationships, build self-worth, and foster resilience. That’s why we’ve developed a new series of Play Moves to support play for every child, every day.
Our Play Moves are inspired by key play principles, including the legacy of Friedrich Froebel (1782–1852), the founder of kindergartens and early forms of childhood education. Froebel saw play as the highest expression of childhood, a way for children to make sense of the world and their emotions.
Our six new stormbreak Play Moves capture the importance of movement and conversation in play. Each have a different play focus and collectively they encourage exploration, curiosity, imagination and expression.
🌟 Gifts: This activity celebrates the gift of play. A gift was a symbol that Froebel believed encouraged children to make connections in their learning. In this stormbreak, children learn that gifts aren’t always physical or monetary; they can include the gift of time, listening, or simply being present. A gift can be about understanding the value of kindness and connection with others.
🎪 The Show’s in Town: A circus-themed stormbreak where children explore creativity and resilience. It encourages children to try new things, embrace their uniqueness, and build self-worth through performance and imagination.
💫 Superstar Moves: Trying something new can be daunting. This stormbreak encourages children to be brave, playful, and aspirational; reassuring them that mistakes are part of learning and play is a safe place to make mistakes.
🎭 Moving Memories: By stepping into different roles, children explore empathy and reflect on past experiences. Children also imagine future possibilities, developing hope and emotional understanding.
👣 Footsteps: In this activity, children recognise and express their emotions through the context of play. By “walking in someone else’s shoes,” they engage in self-awareness and compassion for others.
🌬️💧🔥 Wind, Water, Fire: Strong relationships are built on time and understanding. This stormbreak encourages children to appreciate differences, rebuild connections, and find shared interests through play.
Why Play Matters Now More Than Ever
As educators, parents, and trusted adults, it’s time we reframe our role: step back and let children lead their play. But if that feels daunting, our Play Moves offer structured flexibility and support, without the rules.
Play is not a luxury. It is a necessity for growth, connection, creativity, and mental wellbeing. Let’s ensure every child has the space, time, and freedom to play, every day. If you feel you can commit to just five minutes of play a day, we suggest starting with the stombreak Wind, Water, Fire and experience the power of stormbreak play.
Stormbreak CEO and co-founder Dr Martin Yelling recently appeared on the Play Their Way podcast to discuss the link between mental health and physical exercise, approaching children and young people with compassionate curiosity. To hear this and other Play Their Way podcasts, follow this link.
References
Children's Alliance (2023) available at https://childrensalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/A-PLAN-FOR-PLAY-FINAL-ILLUSTRATED.pdf, (accessed 20 February 2025)
Clements, T., and Harding, E. L. (2022). Children’s Views on Playtime in Schools: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Playwork Practice, 2(1)
UNCRC (1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child [accessed 30 November 2024]
Vicky is a physical education teacher educator (formerly at University of Winchester and Roehampton University), Associate Visiting Professor (University of Gloucestershire) and Research Consultant at PE Scholar, content writer for EU HU Findel and Ambassador for stormbreak.