By Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Chief Executive of Eureka! The National Children's Museum
The Government has finally recognised that our happiness and wellbeing is as important for Britain’s progress as economic measures likeGDP. The Cabinet Secretary is now calling for a culture change to show children that there is more to life than material possessions to help the next generation become more altruistic and emotionally intelligent.
Whitehalldepartments have been urged to consider people’s happiness in the development of new policies and schools are being encouraged to incorporate more citizenship and “happiness” lessons. But this doesn’t go far enough. Measures to actively promote wellbeing should be integrated throughout society, communities and the curriculum so that children build values and relationships as a natural part of the growing and learning process.
At Eureka! The National Children’s Museum we have been demonstrating the power of play in improving both children and adults’ well-being for almost 20 years. The New Economics Foundation’s work on what comprises wellbeing published back in 2008-9, breaks it down into five elements – all of which are core to what we do
- Connect: The museum offers a place for families and friends to play together and with others from all walks of life. We create a community through our exhibits, staff and visitors
- Be active: Our main exhibition, Me and My Body, is designed to help children explore and understand their own bodies and health and what impacts upon them. We also have a touring exhibition with goes out into communities to promote active lifestyles through interactive learning techniques
- Take notice: Eureka! is all about self discovery. There are no learning outcomes or work sheets. Instead, everything is tactile and sensory to build on children’s natural curiosity and help them explore the world around them
- Keep learning: We establish a love of lifelong learning through play – not just amongst children but through their parents, grandparents, carers and teachers who learn alongside them
- Give: Eureka! is an educational charity and our play spaces promote values of sharing and giving through role play and interaction
Taking time out from our target-driven culture to play freely without boundaries has many benefits for children and adults alike. It is proven to make people more confident, relaxed, happy, open-minded, inquisitive, caring and resilient – the list goes on.
There is currently no national strategy for the provision and promotion of play and children’s services are being cut. The Government needs to wake up to the potential of play and use places like Eureka! as a blueprint for improving well-being in wider society.
