World Play Day - Troy Taylor

Aired October 12, 2023. Play is fundamental to every child, helping them develop crucial skills that benefit them both now and in the future. However, new data reveals we may not be giving Aussie children the amount of playtime they need. New research from the LEGO Group reveals that children are spending just two per cent of their week playing. This is equivalent to just seven hours. Through play, children develop essential skills such as communication, confidence, teamwork and creativity. These enhance every other area of their development, learning and growth. In today’s busy world, the benefits of playtime are under threat. Family schedules are packed with everyday responsibilities with working long hours and chores proving the biggest barriers to family play according to parents. As a result, nearly a quarter of children in Australia (24 per cent) are playing for less than three hours a week. This current play deficit is a cause for concern for experts given the crucial role of play in shaping a child's cognitive abilities, overall wellbeing and most importantly, in them having fun. World Play Day presents a unique opportunity to bring people of all ages together using the superpower of play to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Troy Taylor, Vice President & General Manager LEGO Australia & New Zealand, spoke on Gippsland Perspective about World Play Day and the new data. For more information about Life FM Gippsland, or to listen live, visit www.lifefm.com.au.