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Why Street Play and YPSU are So Important for Children and Young People

Posted on Oct 07, 2023
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By Peter Wyn Mosey
Peter Wyn Mosey participates in People Speak Up Projects, including Story Care and Share, People Sing Up, and Spoken Word Saturday. 

In a busy digital age, where screens dominate our daily lives, ensuring children have access to outdoor play is more important than ever. Playing outside benefits a child’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. 

Throughout the year, People Speak Up runs various activities for children and teens. Street Play is open to children of all ages. Our Street Play team heads across Llanelli and Carmarthenshire, providing a safe place for children to make new friends and play out. 

Young People Speak Up is a judgement-free space for anyone aged 11-18. Hosted weekly at Ffwrnes Fach, Arts, Health and Well-being Hub, YPSU offers a chance for young people to meet others, build confidence, develop skills, and find their voice.

Lauren Cole is the Play and Childcare Development Assistant for Carmarthenshire County Council. She says: 

"Street play is funded by the Welsh Government as part of the Playworks Holiday project. On behalf of the Welsh Government, Carmarthenshire County Council have commissioned People Speak Up to run open-access play sessions across the county to provide better play opportunities for children in vulnerable communities and to realise the benefit this brings in terms of child development and activity levels. The project also provides additional benefits by helping to reduce holiday hunger by providing healthy snacks during play sessions. It offers children and their families the opportunity to socialise, be active, learn something new, eat healthy and, most importantly, have fun together."

Let’s look at how activities like Street Play and YPSU benefit young people. 

Street Play Helps Physical Development

Street Play provides opportunities for children to engage in physical activity, promoting their overall health and well-being. 

The PSU Street Play team always brings a selection of toys, games, and activities to whichever venue they attend. The activities are varied, and children can bring their own games, too. 

Many of the games will help children develop motor skills, coordination, balance, and strength.
These physical activities also enhance cardiovascular health, build strong bones and muscles, and help prevent obesity and related health issues.

Kenzie regularly comes to street play. He says, "I love coming to meet friends and run around!"

Street Play and YPSU Improve Cognitive Development

Outdoor play stimulates children's cognitive development by providing them with rich and multisensory experiences. 

The activities at YPSU often help older children and teens in the same way. A mix of activities led by various facilitators often aids our young people in learning new skills and applying existing ones in a creative way. 

Ryan attends, and he said YPSU is "Fun..you meet people, learn new skills, and it's very inclusive."

Spending time outdoors profoundly impacts children's emotional well-being. Outdoor play allows them to unwind, reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and boost mental health. 

While the sun isn’t always guaranteed in South Wales, exposure to natural sunlight aids vitamin D production, which contributes to regulating mood and preventing depression.

Both YPSU and Street Play are great opportunities for young people to meet others. Feeling connected and socialising is important for emotional well-being.

By heading out to different locations around Llanelli and Carmarthenshire, PSU’s Street Play team helps children find new friends locally. Sometimes, those attending wouldn’t have those opportunities to connect with others. 

YPSU is similar. It's a chance to make new friends outside of school or college, and many participants develop strong friendships. 

Grace comes to YPSU and says  "It's fun to meet people and get away from family for a while."

YPSU and Street Play Boost Social Skills and Communication

Street Play promotes the development of vital social skills and effective communication. Many games encourage teamwork, cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Through play, children learn valuable social and communication skills that help them throughout their lives. 

Some activities mean children learn to take turns, share resources, and communicate ideas. This helps them develop empathy and respect for others. Outdoor play also helps children build friendships and practice social etiquette. 

Many of the activities at YPSU help young people work together in groups. Through creative activities, problem-solving, and discussions around important topics, young people can hone their communication skills. 

Alex says YPSU "gives me a sense of community and gets me out of the house."

The freedom offered by Street Play allows children to unleash their imagination and creativity. Many games and outdoor activities allow an element of pretend play, where children use their imagination to create. 

Similarly, YPSU uses a range of artistic activities to encourage self-expression. From painting, crafting, music, storytelling, and even graffiti, sand, and landscape art, young people can participate in the creative activities that inspire them most. 

Konnah enjoys YSPU and says, "It gets me out of the house, and we can chill or join in, which I like."

Street Play Helps Children Develop Risk Assessment Skills and Resilience

Street Play provides children with opportunities to assess risks and develop resilience. They learn to gauge their physical abilities and make decisions independently. 

Engaging in physical activity helps children assess their limits and learn from their experiences, ultimately building self-confidence and resilience. This process equips children with valuable life skills, enabling them to face adversity and challenges positively.

Join Young People Speak Up and Street Play

The benefits of outdoor play for children are undeniable. From physical development to cognitive growth, emotional well-being, social skills, and creativity, outdoor play offers a holistic approach to child development. 

By encouraging young people to engage in game playing and outdoor activity, it helps their physical and mental well-being and cultivates essential life skills. 

The opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and community at YPSU encourage social skills, help young people build confidence, and inspire future studies and careers. 

If you’re interested in Young People Speak Up, sessions run for 11-14-year-olds from 3:30-5:00 PM and for 15-18-year-olds from 5:30-7:00 PM every Wednesday. On Thursday, a mixed-age session runs from 4:00-6:00 PM. 

Street Play is available at different times and locations throughout the year, with extra dates added throughout school holidays. Keep updated with exact timings on the PSU website, via social media, or by emailing info@peoplespeakup.co.uk.