Practical tips for play rangers to facilitate play in the dark

Inside:• Overview• Safewaysofworking

• Parentalconcernsandprofessionalism

• Ideasforplayinginthedark

• Differentapproaches

• Usefulsuppliers• Resources

Practical tips for

This series was compiled by Dan Rees-Jones; a practising play ranger and author of Playing on the Range. The briefings have been developed in response to FAQs to the Play Ranger Support Service e-group. The e-group was set up by Dan in 2008 with support from Playwork Partnerships and Play England to provide play rangers and playworkers with an access point to share experiences, information, advice and good practice.

About these briefings:About these briefings:

Key points • Playrangersneedtoeffectively

communicatewhattheserviceistoallitskeyclients

• Establishthebaselineofcurrentparkoropenspaceusage.

• Makecontactwithlocalagenciesthatimpactonplayrangerprovision.

• Establishagoodmarketingcampaignwithstrongpublicitytoprofessionaliseimageofservice

Play rangersPlay rangers

Key points Key points • Childrenenjoyplayinginthedark• Playinginthedarkaddsvarietyto

experienceofafamiliarsetting• Playinginthedarkoffersagreater

rangeofpossibilitiesandplayopportunities

• Playrangersneedtobalanceriskandsafety

• Communicationtochildren,parentsandotherstakeholders(schools,youthclubs,policeetc)shouldcoverdetailsaboutoperatingtimes,aimsandvalues,natureofactivity.

Play rangers provide opportunities for children to use parks and open spaces all year and in all weather.

Itisthereforeinevitablethatplayrangerswillhavetospendsomeproportionofthiscontractedtimeprovidingplaysessionsinthedark.

Whileinmanywaysthiscanbeadauntingprospect,withthelogisticsofrunninganightsessionandreassuringanxiousparents,itcanbeaveryexcitingandmagicaltimetoo.

‘Nighttransformsthenaturalworldintoaverydifferentplace;forsomechildrenitisatimeofexcitementanddiscovery,butforothersitissinisterandfrightening.Yetdarknessitselfisnotsomethingtobefearfulof,andthemorethechildrenfindoutaboutthemysteriesofnightthelessscarytheywillseem.’

(Danks,FandSchofield,J.2005)

Thisbriefingexploresthekeyconsiderationsthatplayrangersandmanagersneedtoaddresswhenprovidingsessionsinthedarkaswellasprovidingpracticaltipsandideasforactivities.

Aswellasbeingregularandconsistent,playrangersshouldalsotrytoclearlypromotetheaimsandintentionsoftheplayprovision.

Developingrelationshipswithotheragenciessuchaslocalschools,youthclubsandcommunitypolicewillhelptofurtherinstilthetrustandconfidenceinthecommunitieswhereplayrangerswillbeworking.

Investinginprofessionalglossyleafletsthatdetailthewho,whyandwhatofplayrangers,aswellascontactdetails,isagoodwaytogetthismessageacross.Thesecanberegularlydistributedamongchildrenandanynewpeoplewhoareunawareoftheservice.

It is important that play rangers follow guidelines for safe ways of working. This is especially important in the dark, as the senses are restricted.

Althougheachspecificplayorganisationwillhaveitsownhealthandsafetypolicytoinformandguideplayrangers,thefollowinglistcontainsimportantaspectsofpersonalsafetyforplayrangerstoconsider.

• Playrangersshouldalwaysworkinteamsoftwo,asaminimum,andbeclearlyidentifiabletoparentsandchildren.Brightlycoloureduniformsorhighvisibilityvestsmaybeusefulinthisrespectbutvisibleofficialidentification,tovalidateaplayranger’sidentity,shouldalsobeworn.

• Playrangersshouldalwaysworktogetherandbewithinvocalrangeofeachother.Ifasituationariseswhereonlyoneplayrangerisleftonsitethenthesessionshouldfinish.

• Eachplayrangerpairshouldhaveachargedmobilephoneandawind-uptorchforeachsession.

• Playrangersshouldhaveup-to-datefirstaidtrainingandcarryafirstaidkit.Theyshouldalsobeawareoftheorganisation’saccidentandemergencyprocedures,inmostcasestheirroleisasresponsibleadultratherthaninlocoparentis.

Safe ways of workingSafe ways of working

Parental concerns and professional imageParental concerns and professional image

When the light starts to fade and the nights draw in it is important to be reliable and consistent with the delivery of play ranger sessions. This will really help to establish trust with children and their parents.

AsurveycommissionedbyNaturalEnglandin2009,ChildhoodandNature:Asurveyonchangingrelationshipswithnatureacrossgenerations,foundthat:

• Eighty-onepercentofchildrenwouldlikemorefreedomtoplayoutside.Nearlyhalfofthechildrensaidtheyarenotallowedtoplayoutsideunsupervisedandnearlyaquarterareworriedtobeoutalone.

• Eighty-fivepercentofparentssaidtheywouldliketheirchildrentobeabletoplayoutdoorsunsupervisedbutafearofstrangersandroadsafetyconcernspreventthemfromgivingmuchfreedomtotheirchildren.

Playingoutsideinthedarkduringthewintermonthsnaturallycausessomeparentstobecomeslightlyconcernedabouttheirchildren’ssafety.

When darkness arrives, children tend to choose play things that involve light and heat. Below is a list of ideas and starting points that may assist play rangers working in the dark.

TorchesTorchesareahugelyversatile,cheapandfunresource,andaregreattoexperimentwith.Theonlydownsidecanbethattheytendtobesopopulartheycansometimesgomissing!Therearenumeroustypesavailable,andpricesandqualityvaryconsiderably.Wind-uptorchescostnothingtorunwhileheadtorchesprovideahands-freeoption.Bothtypescanbeeasilysourcedvialocalandonlinestores.

GeneratorsAgoodquality110voltgeneratorcanbearelativelycheapwayofprovidinganeffectiveoutdoorlightingsystem.Onhealthandsafetygrounds,generatorswillneedtobedieselrunandbecoveredwithastrongwirebaskettokeepchildren’sfingersawayfromthehotparts.Theonlydownsidewiththisarethetransportation,noiseandstorageissues.

Flood lights and portable lighting sourcesBattery-chargedfloodlightsattachedtobigtripodlegsarecapableoflightingupavastarea.Theywillneedtobetakenhomeeverynowandthentobechargedbutarereallygoodforoutdoorsessionsonthosedarkevenings.

Glow in the dark equipmentThereisarangeofdifferenttoysandsportsequipmentthatglowinthedarkandlightupthatarereallygoodfuntouse.Itemsincludelight-upfootballs,glowinthedarkfrisbeesandlight-upskippingropes.

Ideas for playing in the darkIdeas for playing in the dark

FiresMakingafirecreatesanaturalplaceforpeopletogather.Itprovidesafocalpointofinterestandiswarmandcomfortingaswellasbeingperfectforcookinghotsnacksanddrinkson.Theyalsolookgreatinthedarktoo!

Itwillbenecessarytorequestpermissionfromthelandownerbeforedonganyfireactivity.Oncepermissionhasbeensoughtitisalsoadvisablefororganisationstohaveafirepolicyorsafetyguidelinesinplacesothatallstaffareawareoftheprinciplesandprocedures.AgenericexamplecanbefoundonthePlayworkPartnershipswebsiteat:www.playwork.co.uk

Otherusefulinformationonusingfirescanbefoundonthefollowingwebsites:

• Tipsonhowtomakefireswithchildren:www.scoutingresources.org.uk

• Cookingonacampfire:www.woodlands.co.uk

• Makingandusingcardboardboxovens:http://bit.ly/cardboardboxoven

Note:insteadofusingwiretocreatefireshelves,usehouseholdbrickstolinetheedgeandacoolingtray.Thiswillcreateamuchsturdiershelvingsystem.

GamesManyseekinggameslike1-2-3,blockandforty-fortyarebestplayedwhenitisdark.Torchesfortheplayerscanaddanextradimension.

Gamesthatinvolveahigherdegreeofphysicalexertionsuchassportsandtagtendtobeverypopularinthewintermonthsasithelpstokeepthecoldout.

Manhunt,avariantoftag,isanextremelypopulargamethatchildrenliketoplayinthedark.

Oneplayerisdesignatedas‘it’andstandsatanagreedbasepoint(suchasagoalpost)andcountsto10or20whilealltheotherplayershide.Oncethecountdownisfinishedthehidingplayershavetotryandreturntotheagreedbasewhileavoidingbeingtaggedby‘it’.If‘it’catchesanyonebeforereachingthebasethey join‘its’teamforthenextgo.Repeatuntileveryoneistagged.Thelastpersonisthewinnerandstartsas‘it’forthenextgo.

FurtherideasandresourcesrelatingtopopulargamesthatchildrenenjoycanbefoundinthepublicationTheLoreofthePlaygroundbyStephenRoud,2010.

Den building Denbuildingisalotoffun,veryaccessibleforchildrenofallages,andusefuliftheweathergetswetandcold.Itispossibletoconstructmakeshiftdensoutofvirtuallyanythingtohandbutstandardequipmentcouldincludelargesheets,tarpaulins,tentpegs,bignets,bamboocanesandropes.

Scrapstoresareexcellentplacesforacquiringcheapresourcesandthesecanbefoundatvariouslocationsaroundthecountry.VisittheUKdirectoryofscrapstores:www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk

TheEdenProjecthasahelpfulguidetobuildingyourowndenandsomegreatexamples-http://bit.ly/denbuilding

ThePlayRangersGooglegrouphassomeusefuldiscussionsondenbuilding:http://groups.google.com/group/playrangers

Formorerobustsheltersitmayalsobeworthconsideringinflatableorportabletypesbutthesewillobviouslyhavemoreofanimpactonthebudget.

• PlayEngland(2008)CharterforChildren’sPlay.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/charter

• Conway,M(2008),QualityinPlay:Standards,assessmentindicatorsandevidence–amanual,London:NCB/PlayEngland.Furtherinformationavailableonline:www.playengland.org.uk/quality

• Danks,FandSchofield,J(2005),Nature’sPlayground.London:FrancisLincoln.

• EnglandMarketing(2009),ChildhoodandNature:Asurveyonchangingrelationshipswithnatureacrossgenerations.Cambridgeshire:EnglandMarketing.Seealso:http://bit.ly/childhoodandnature

Resources

• NPFA,CPCandPlaylink(2000),BestPlay:whatplayprovisionshoulddoforchildren.London:NPFA.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/bestplay

• PlayworkPrinciplesScrutinyGroup(2005)PlayworkPrinciples.Cardiff:PlayworkPrinciplesScrutinyGroup.Online:http://bit.ly/playworkprinciples

• Rees-Jones,D(2008)PlayingontheRange.Gloucester:PlayworkPartnerships,UniversityofGloucestershire.Onlinewww.playwork.co.uk

• Rees-Jones,D(2007)ThePlayRangerGuide.Radstock,WansdykePlayAssociation.Availablefrom http://bit.ly/vKQwmB

• Roud,S(2010)TheLoreofthePlayground.London:RandomHouse

Different approachesDifferent approachesIf the darkness is causing issues such as diminishing numbers it may be worth considering alternative approaches to providing the service.

InBath,playrangersusedalocalchurchhallwithalargegardenduringthethreedarkestmonthsandsuccessfullyprovidedbusyplaysessionswithindoorandoutdooractivities.

Staffordplayrangersadoptedatwilightapproachtocopewiththediminishinglight.

Theyidentifiedcarparksintheareaswhichwereoftennotusedatnightbutwerewelllit,andobtainedpermissioninwritingfromtheowners.

Thesewell-litspacesprovedpopularwiththechildrenandyoungpeopleduringthewintermonths.

Play rangers build positive relationships with children and young people within their communities, by listening and responding to their play needs.

Play England is part of NCB and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund. Published by NCB, for Play England, January 2011.

Play England, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE. Tel: 0207 843 6300 Email: playengland@ncb.org.uk, Web: www.playengland.org.uk