#15 Eugene Minogue. The Right to Play: Childhood, Risk, and the Public Space
Description
In this conversation, Andrew Telfer (WildStrong) speaks with Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, about the state of play in the UK and beyond.
From free-range childhoods to the rise of 'No Ball Games' signs, they explore how societal shifts and adult fears have squeezed play out of children's lives.
Eugene shares personal insights, policy changes, and practical actions we can all take to restore play as a right for both children and adults.
Expect reflections on parkour, digital play, physical literacy, public policy, and why your childhood memories might be the key to fixing the future.
Themes:
The shrinking free-range of children’s movement
Built environment vs play opportunity
The “Know Ball Games” campaign and public space
Parkour and adult play
Risk, fear, and liability
ISO standards on risk–benefit assessments
Digital play and its limits
Why physical literacy begins with unstructured play
How we design for children… and forget adults
Links Mentioned:
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Taming Gaming by Andy Robertson
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
ISO 45003: Benefit–Risk Assessment in Play
🎵 Music: Exercise by Mary Erskine (aka Me for Queen) – used with permission.
United States
