The Play Well Podcast

In this episode, we will look at autism and play.To explore this our Learning & Development Officer Jenny Lester catches up with Dr Robert Grant. Dr.Grant is a licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. He is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy which is an integrative family play therapy approach. He is also currently serving as the chair on the board of directors for the Association for Play Therapy.

In this episode, we will look at youth work and play.To explore this our Director Marguerite Hunter Blair speaks to Kevin Kane, Policy and Research Manager at Youth Link Scotland.Kevin leads the development of youth work policy impacting on young people’s lives, investigating and responding to current and emerging policy and legislative issues affecting young people and the youth work sector. He is leading on co-developing and producing the new National Youth Work Strategy (20-25) and implementation plan, alongside strategic partners, The Scottish Government and Education Scotland.

In this episode, we will look at partnership working to plan for play at local authority level. To explore this our Head of Projects, Cherie Morgan, caught up with Audrey White from Dundee City council.Audrey is the Education Support Officer for the Children and Families Service, Dundee City Council. She has a degree in physical education and she is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly relating how play, physical activity and enjoying the outdoors; supporting children and young people to make healthy choices relating to food and drink.You can find out more about how to plan for play at local authority level here: https://www.playscotland.org/play/playful-communities/

In this episode, we will look at how to engage children and young people in planning. This is the perfect place to start if you are looking to engage with children and young people on the NPF4 (Draft), or on an Open Place Plan or Play Sufficiency Assessment.To explore this, our Learning and Development Officer Jenny Lester catches up with Dr. Jenny Wood from a Place in Childhood. Jenny is a trained town planner who completed a PhD on children’s human rights and the Scottish town planning system. She now works to enable young citizens to participate meaningfully in improving the environments and services which affect them.

In this episode, we will look at play, sport, and physical activity, and how play can be used to lead to better outcomes for all children.To explore this, our Head of Projects Cherie Morgan catches up with Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland Lee Craigie, and Thrive Outdoors Fund Manager from Inspiring Scotland Melodie Crumlin.

In this episode, we will look at play and gender equality, and how play can be used to lead to better outcomes for all children.To explore this, our Learning and Development Officer Jenny Lester catches up with Joanna Zawadzka from Zero Tolerance and Susie Heywood from the Gender Equal Nurseries Project in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

In this episode, we will look at play and mental health, and how play can be used to lead to better outcomes for all children.To explore this our Director Marguerite Hunter Blair speaks to Professor Helen Dodd.

In this episode, we will look at poverty as a barrier to play, play as a social justice issue, and how play can be used to lead to better outcomes for all children.To explore this our Director Marguerite Hunter Blair speaks to Professor John McKendrick.

In this episode, we will look at how play can be used to support active travel and lead to better outcomes for all children. To explore this we will be hearing from Naomi Wright from the Art and Energy Collective, Robyn Warburton from Paths for All, and Emily Ryder from Play Together On Pedals.

In this episode, we are looking at how play supports families to get out and be active, and also how more broadly it supports relationships between the children and families and also in providing a support network of peers.We will be chatting to Jane Brompton, Chief Executive of Early Years Scotland, Clare Haughey MSP, Minister for Children and Young People, and Charlotte Bowes, an Early Years teacher and Play Champion from Edinburgh.