Active Play is simple: it boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
High levels of inactivity among Scotland’s children are having a serious effect on their health and well-being and can impact the rest of their lives. Our Active Play programme is proven to increase physically activity but is also linked to improved emotional, social and cognitive development. Active Play is also linked to Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence and contributes to closing the attainment gap for children in deprived areas.
Children need to be active and they need to play. We are working to make Active Play and fundamental part of the school day in Scotland.
Active Play is much more than a nice idea. Our own research is backed up by studies from the USA, Canada and Scandinavia which demonstrate the importance of outdoor physically active play in aiding a child’s mental development; boosting cognitive ability, academic achievement, imagination, creativity and social skills.
Read our evaluation summaryActive Play promotes greater physical activity for Scotland’s children in a way that
is fun, inclusive and active
Golfhill Primary School in Glasgow’s Dennistoun area has been taking part in the Glasgow Active Play programme. Primary 4 class teacher Miss McCarten found the Active Play sessions had a very positive effect on her class, helping them be more active, gain confidence, build relationships and friendships, and work better in the classroom.
Our Active Play programme is currently being introduced to 139 primary schools across Glasgow in conjunction with Glasgow City Council Education. A further pilot programme is under way in eight primary schools in Dundee, in partnership with Scottish Government and Dundee City Council, with a similar programme planned for Highland in January. Download our prospectus to see how Active Play can be integrated into primary schools in your local authority.
Download the prospectusWe work with experts from the voluntary, public, private and academic sectors. Get in touch if you want to help us build a better Scotland.
Speak to us.