News & Results
Time to tākaro with the Summer Whānau Challenge
Have fun with the whānau this summer via our 30 easy ideas for play!
Sport Bay of Plenty has joined with other regional play leads from around the country and come up with 30 simple ways for whānau to have fun through play this summer. The 30 ways to play have been collated into a scoreboard to tick off over the summer.
Print out the Summer Whānau Challenge score card, display it on the fridge or somewhere around the home and use it as a fun reminder for you and your family to get outside and play together.
Steph Reichardt, the regional play lead at sport Bayof Plenty says children thrive when they have the freedom, space and permission to get outside and play.
"This summer they can take the lead from some of these simple ideas, try them out, take some pictures and share the fun with Sport Bay of Plenty on social media because we are really interested to know how they play this summer.”
Add the hashtag #swcbayofplenty to your play posts this summer for a chance to be featured on our social media in the new year.
Download the Summer Whānau Challenge scorecard
Why play?
Because free play is vital to tamariki’s physical and mental health and development, and it happens when children and young people follow their own ideas and interests, in their own way, and for their own reasons. Play provides opportunities for social interaction and physical activity, it can reduce children’s stress and promote wellbeing and facilitates creativity. Importantly, social connection and play offer myriad learning opportunities and positively support children’s academic attainment and learning.
Children are experts in play and can play almost anywhere and with anything when they are given the freedom and permission to do so. Everyone has a role in making this possible – adults are the enablers of Play. Every setting counts: parks, streets, schools, summer schools, playgrounds, public space and more. So this summer say Yes to Play and take the Summer Whānau Challenge.
