With the school summer holidays now well underway, children across Manchester are invited to get involved and join in with some fantastic free fun activities as the city marks National Play Day next Wednesday 6 August.
The day is a country-wide celebration of children’s right to play – a right which is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – and which encourages children of all ages, from tiny tots to teenagers, to get playful with a whole host of activities including arts and crafts, team sports, outdoor adventures and more.
The national day also serves as a reminder of the importance of play in the development and wellbeing of children and young people – both for their physical health, and for their mental health and wellbeing.
From tiddly-winks to tennis – the kind of skills children and young people learn when they play games together are wide-ranging and numerous, and each one as important as another. Whether it’s improving fine motor skills, coordination, balance, or problem-solving and critical thinking – playing games together is about a whole lot more than just having fun.
Playing with others also helps children learn about themselves and the world around them, helps them make friends, improve their language and communication skills, and just as importantly, helps them to gain confidence, and to feel less stressed.
National Play Day 2025 comes as Manchester continues on its journey towards being recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City,and will see a packed programme of free events and activities across the city in libraries, leisure centres, parks, and cultural venues.
The theme for National Play Day this year is ‘Spaces for Play’, highlighting the importance of accessible and inclusive spaces where children can play freely within their local communities.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council, said: “We’re very fortunate in Manchester in having some brilliant spaces for children and young people to play in the city, including our amazing parks and playgrounds, our fantastic sports and leisure facilities right across the city, plus our amazing libraries, galleries, and museums.
“Having fun, laughing, and enjoying playing games with others is what the lucky ones amongst us will almost certainly remember about our own childhoods, and is what being a child should be all about.
“It’s something we want for every child growing up in Manchester and as we journey towards becoming a child friendly city, we’re more determined than ever to create as many opportunities as possible for our children and young people to learn, to grow, and develop new skills, whilst at the same time having as much fun as they can with each other.”
Find out more about all the free fun happening across the city for National Play Day