Children from all over Dublin are invited to take part in active play next Sunday in a city-centre park. There will be skipping, relay, hop-scotch, obstacle courses, penalty shoot-outs, ball games and a messy corner, in the first Play Day, in Merrion Square, between 2.30pm and 5pm.
Dublin City Council, which is hosting the event, hopes it will get children up and active, and away from computer games and television. Play development officer with the council, Anne O'Brien, is hoping that up to 400 children, aged between three and 12, and their parents will come along.
"And we hope it will get children to think more creatively about playing, and that their parents will too.
"In a general way it's important parents take part too, provide the materials like skipping ropes and hula hoops. Active play is not expensive and is great fun."
She said that while television and computers had their educational benefits "they fail to offer the same social and health benefits as creative and active games".
Tickets for the event are free and available at local libraries.
