Advocates of the "Engage with Me" initiative
In a bid to promote the importance of play for children's social development, a district-wide campaign called "Shared Play" has been initiated in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign aims to provide children and families with accessible, safe opportunities for play, despite the restrictive pandemic conditions.
The objectives of the campaign include promoting physical activity, social interaction, and psychological well-being among children, while complying with public health measures that limit usual playground use and group gatherings. The initiative seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on children's development and mental health, counter social isolation, and encourage community engagement in a safe environment.
District Administrator Hans-Jürgen Petrauschke presented the campaign, encouraging parents to play with their children. A brochure with play and craft ideas has been reprinted, and families can request it along with other materials like a paint set, Mikado game, wooden tower, and family leisure tips.
The new district-wide campaign has started, involving all eight municipalities in the district. It is the collaborative effort of various stakeholders, including schools, kindergartens, family centers, youth facilities, and practices. Youth Office Director Marion Klein emphasises the significance of shared play during the Corona pandemic for children's development.
Playing is not limited to board games or puzzles; it also includes movement games indoors and outdoors, as well as involving children playfully in household tasks. Through play, children learn about the world, develop competencies, and discover how things work, what they are used for, and what their meaning is. Playing helps children unfold their emotional, mental, and physical potential. It is healthy and beneficial for children's overall development.
The "Shared Play" campaign is part of a broader movement in Germany and other countries to address the adverse effects of lockdowns on children. It emphasises inclusivity, safe outdoor play, and strengthening community ties during crisis times. Though no direct search results explicitly describe the "Shared Play" campaign, this interpretation aligns with known objectives of similar efforts launched during the pandemic.
Renate Alf, a cartoonist, has developed five different motifs of everyday scenes for promotional materials. District Youth Councilor Sebastian Johnen, Marion Klein (Head of the Youth Office), Ursula Platen (Deputy Mayor for Youth, Education and Culture of the City of Neuss), Christine Thoms (Head of the Youth Office in Kaarst), Birgit Wilms (Press Spokesperson of the City of Korschenbroich), Norbert Wolf (Press Spokesperson of the City of Jüchen), and Florian Herpel (Youth Councilor of the City of Grevenbroich) are among the initiators of the campaign.
The district-wide "Shared Play" campaign underscores the importance of play in promoting social interaction and dealing with winning and losing, and its role in maintaining democracy. By organising shared, district-wide play activities adapted to pandemic safety requirements, the initiative supports children's need for play and social connection during a period of widespread disruption.
The "Shared Play" campaign extends beyond home-and-garden activities, incorporating education-and-self-development resources such as the brochure with play and craft ideas provided for families. The district-wide initiative, involving multiple educational institutions and family centers, emphasizes the lifestyle benefits of play for children's holistic development, including social interaction, physical activity, and psychological well-being.
