Dublin City Council’s Play Day 2009 event takes place in Merrion Square on Sunday 5th July, starting at 2pm and running until 5.30pm.
According to Lord Mayor Cllr Emer Costello, who will attend on the day, “Play Day is a children’s event with a difference – it’s all about the ordinary, basic kinds of play that children love. No expensive, fancy equipment and no sitting around watching other people doing things, this is about active fun games that everybody can take part in.”
The Lord Mayor says there will be something for everyone at the event, “This free, family-friendly event is guaranteed to bring out the child in everyone. Activities on the day include a giant pillow fight, parachute games, giant bubbles, a silly obstacle course, dressing up, puppet shows and much, much more.”
Anne O’Brien is Play Development Officer with Dublin City Council. She says, “Play Day gets children playing in a non-structured environment. Nowadays, children have fewer places to play and more and more activities are structured into courses. These can often be expensive and children’s involvement can be passive. Play Day demonstrates to adults that children can play in ordinary, non-structured ways, using the best toy of all – their imaginations.”
And help is on hand for parents who might struggle to provide bouncy castles and children’s entertainers in these recessionary times. Anne O’Brien says that “Play Day also helps adults organise play events with the emphasis on activities that cost little or no money. The message is: come along, get some tips and then let the kids do it for themselves at home.”
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Notes to Editor:
Dublin City Council held its first Play Day in 2005 and it became a national event in 2006. The council has held a Play Day event in Merrion Square every year since 2005. Play Day is supported by the Office of the Minister for Children
Dublin City Council’s ‘Come on out and Play’ booklet is a great resource for anyone wanting to organise their own Play Day event. This is available on : http://www.dublincity.ie/Community/childrensservicesunit/Pages/ChildrensPlayandRecreation.aspx