The coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on children around the world. To support children’s right to play, the International Play Association (IPA) has developed new resources to help parents and carers.

The resources give parents and carers information and ideas to support children’s play. Topics include the importance of playing in times of crisis and how to respond to children’s play needs. The resources also offer information about how to deal with issues that may concern parents like children playing with difficult themes of loss, death and loneliness.

During times of crisis, playing helps to help give children a sense of normality and joy.

Each resource is available to download and read:

The importance of playing during a crisis

Supporting your child’s play during a crisis

Thinking about your child’s play

Play that involves difficult themes such as loss, illness and death

Managing play at home that feels noisy or destructive

Messy play at home

Things to play with around your home

Make the most of your time outside

Internet and screen-based activities and play … finding a balance

Playing when you cannot go outside your home.

Or you can download the resources as a booklet.