Connecting children to the world around them with a Passport to Play

Published on 24 February 2023

Council has unveiled Passport to Play, a unique resource co-created with local children for children that aims to foster connectedness while promoting the benefits of play.

The passport-sized booklet shares information on spaces, places and play ideas that children and families can enjoy together in the City of Maribyrnong. The interactive format also invites children to mark their favourite places to play on the Maribyrnong map, and draw images illustrating the play activities they enjoy and who they enjoy playing with.

Featuring artworks and comments from local children, it’s a one-stop-shop for all things play, creativity and learning.

A range of in-person workshops were held with children aged up to 12 from various cultural backgrounds within the municipality to help guide the development of the resource and bring it to life. Participants were encouraged to discuss their ideas for how they wanted to play and where and with whom they wanted to play.

A Children's Leadership Group, made up of Footscray Primary School students, also contributed to the resource design and helped steer the project, championing children as collaborators and celebrating them as the experts in play.

At the Passport to Play launch event at Braybrook Library on Wednesday 22 February, Mayor, Cr Sarah Carter, presented the Children's Leadership Group with a certificate and a small gift to acknowledge their participation.

Mayor Carter thanked all those involved in bringing the resource to life as a way to encourage play in local neighbourhoods across the City.

"Science tells us play is important in supporting the social, cognitive, physical and emotional development of children. It can also promote brain development, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote overall well-being, happiness, relationships, and a sense of accomplishment.

“Recognising all of this, the Passport to Play has been developed to promote the joy, health, wellbeing, cultural understanding, learning, and development that children can find through play. I hope our young people and their families are able to embrace the resource and just enjoy ‘playing’.”

Copies of Passport to Play are available at a range of local libraries, primary schools, and community centres, and can also be found on Council’s website.

For more information, to download your copy, or find a local facility near you where you can pick up a copy, visit Maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/PassportToPlay

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