More and more children, teachers and parents are asking for a school playground where children can play, exercise and learn in an adventurous, natural environment. Not only because it is fun, but also because it is healthy and good for people and nature. IVN Nature Education and Jantje Beton are supporting this need in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Together, they aim to work with schools to achieve a transition to a playful and natural school playground at every school within one school generation.
In many places, the average school playground in the Netherlands is still an underused space. Yet this space offers opportunities to address urgent challenges relating to health, climate, space and education. Many children lack the challenge and space to play (together), seek adventure and let off steam. This must and can be changed!
From 19 June through 31 July, primary schools can therefore register for support in bringing more nature to the school playground, with the aim of offering more variety and thus encouraging play and physical activity. Ten schools will be selected from all applications, each receiving €5,000. Naturally, this is not enough to tackle the entire playground. However, the initiators hope that this will help schools take a first or next step and identify the need among schools to make their playgrounds more playful and natural.
In addition to this initiative, IVN and Jantje Beton are working with five ambassador municipalities to share knowledge and inspiration and provide financial support for school playgrounds within these municipalities. You can read more about that here.