The authors of this Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) publication argue that play is fundamental to the health and well-being of children, and that state signatories to Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - as well as adults more generally - should recognise, respect, and promote play as a right. In the paper, Russell and Lester examine understandings of the nature and value of play, explore intersections between the CRC and play (e.g., protection rights, participation rights, and provision rights) and argue that both state signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 31 of which enshrines the right to play) and adults generally should take seriously the importance of providing suitable conditions for children to play.

The final chapter examines the provision of conditions for play to take place - with a focus on advocacy. Key points here include the recommendation that adults work at all levels, from local practices to international law, to ensure that: play is recognised as fundamental to children's survival, well-being, health and development; all children have time, space, and licence to play; toxic stressors (e.g., neighbourhoods that are environmentally toxic or spaces of oppression and imprisonment) are identified and action taken to reduce these stressors and also to enable children to develop resilience to them through play; and proactive and collaborative action is taken at policymaking and community levels to develop and maintain local environments that support play.