News
At Fintona, play is more than a childhood pastime, it is a vital part of learning, wellbeing, and connection.
In Term 3 this year, we launched the Play Project with our Year 12 students. The idea was inspired in part by Jonathan Haidt’s ‘The Anxious Generation’, which explores adolescent mental health and the decline of play in childhood. Coupled with conversations about the Reggio Emilia approach in our Early Learning Centre, these reflections led us to ask ‘how might we reintroduce play into the lives of our oldest students, at a stage when the demands of study and the transition to adulthood leave little room for it?’
The idea for the Play Project was simple, during private study periods, students could sign up to spend time in the ELC with no preparation, no expectations, just an invitation to play. This initiative was structured as an action research project as we wanted to examine the impact of free play on Year 12 students’ wellbeing and stress, while also seeking to understand how it supports social confidence and problem-solving in the ELC.
For the Year 12 students, the project offered a rare chance to step away from academic demands and screens. As one student reflected, ‘It has been really valuable as it means you must be in the moment when you are here. I feel much more refreshed than I would if I had stayed in the common room.’ Another shared, ‘It is very easy to
forget you might be stressed when you get here as it really helps to lift your mood and it can change your whole day.’
The benefits for ELC students have been equally significant. Playing alongside older peers has helped them
build their confidence and develop meaningful relationships with the older students. By having the Year 12 students modelling important behaviours such as empathy, turn-taking, and responsibility, our ELC students have started to develop these foundational skills.
Watching the two groups together has been truly heartening. As one staff member reflected, ‘It has been lovely to witness the excitement and happiness in the room on both sides when the Year 12s visit. It has been a real opportunity for our oldest and youngest students to connect and learn from each other.’
The Play Project has shown that play is not something to be grown out of, but something that can enrich lives at every age.
