From Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Published at: 2 July 2020
Last updated 2 July 2020
National Play Day 2020 will take place on Saturday, July 4th 2020. The theme for National Play Day 2020 is Playful Communities, Playful Homes.
The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children all across the country. The Department in collaboration with Local Authorities will implement a programme of activity to support National Play Day and to this end funding is available for all Local Authorities to support their involvement in National Play Day.
This year National Play Day will be will be celebrated under the programme of Let’s Play Ireland, a government-led initiative aimed at promoting play for all children living in Ireland during the COVID-19 emergency.
Local Authorities are funded by the Department to host initiatives to promote and celebrate National Play Day by creating playful opportunities for children all across the country.
Check out the table below to see what great and fun ideas will take place in your area for National Play Day 2020. You can find further information on events in your area by contacting your Local Authority.
Below is a list of activities / events which will take place on 4th July:
| Carlow | Sensory gift bags provided to local additional needs or disability support organisations across Carlow. | |
| Cavan | A day of activities will take place in the gardens of Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, the museum has many years of experience of catering for Family Days Out, School Groups and for children with Special Needs. Some of the activities will include a Magic Show; Mascot Costume Characters; Kids Disco; Interactive Fun Quiz; A Guided Nature Walk and access to the playground. | |
| Clare | Play packs for children with special needs in Clare, Social distance disco and movie night in King Thomand Direct Provision Centre in Lisdoonvarna. | |
| Cork City | Provision of 300 Play Packs from 9 Cork City Libraries. | |
| Cork County | Bundles of outdoor toys and equipment that the children and young adults will enjoy will be made available across 5 Direct Provision Centres in County Cork. | |
| Donegal | Sensory gift bags to be made available for children with additional needs. | |
| Dublin City Council | Circus skills delivered virtually. Play Packs available for collection across a number of parks. | |
| Dunlaoghaire Rathdown | Play packs to be distributed to children with complex developmental needs in conjunction with the HSE early intervention and school age intervention team. | |
| Fingal | A programme of outdoor physical activity aimed at young children residing in the Fingal County Council Catchment area in conjunction with their local CYCSC. This activity aims to engage with children by distributing boxes of chalk throughout the County using established networks such as the Child and Family Support Network. It is also planned that Fingal Libraries will provide a colouring book for indoor play. | |
| Galway City Council | Play packs to be distributed to families within communities most likely to suffer play depravation across Galway City. | |
| Galway Co. Co. | Play packs to be distributed to families within communities most likely to suffer play depravation across Galway County. | |
| Kildare | 800 play packs available for children in Kildare – 400 to be distributed to families that are disadvantaged and 400 will be made available through the libraries. | |
| Kilkenny | Sensory play packs for targeted families consisting of 65 children. | |
| Laois | Distribution of community equipment packs for outdoor play for targeted housing estates. | |
| Leitrim | A day of outdoor fun games – balance bike programme, dance programme, throwing games, parachute games and fun family games and activities. | |
| Limerick | 200 play packs to be provided for children with additional needs. | |
| Longford | Play packs will be provided for children across the county with prioritisation given to children who are experiencing play depravation, children with additional needs or children who are part of a seldom hear group. | |
| Louth | 1,000 skipping ropes provided to children across Louth with online skipping rope tutor. | |
| Mayo | Play packs for children in direct provision and the traveller community. | |
| Meath | Skip’n ‘play play packs to include a demo video. | |
| Monaghan | Play packs to be made available for approximately 200 children across Monaghan. | |
| Roscommon | Interactive online activities to include music; how to make play dough, rainbow in a jar, lava lamp and volcanos; arts and crafts. | |
| Sligo | Sensory play packs for targeted families. | |
| South Dublin | Play packs for 5 targeted groups – Families & communities living in the direct provision centers and hubs; Disability groups for children with additional needs; Community Creches; South Dublin Migrant Integration Forum for families in need and Women’s Refuge Centres. | |
| Tipperary | Play packs to be provided to children via Family Resource Centres, Intercultural Groups and Rural Traveller Groups. | |
| Waterford | Play packs to be distributed to children via the library services in 3 CLÁR and Rapid areas in Waterford. | |
| Westmeath | Events taking place under RAPID areas in Westmeath with activities including: Mindfulness, meditation, gratitude journals, healthy eating tips & yoga for children; Bouncy castle, face painting, games; Hand painted mural for an estate; Creating lighthouses using solar lights and arts & crafts; Planting a memorial garden; Orienteering event; Play packs focusing on educating parents about the importance of Free Play, Sensory Play and Outdoor Play; Information newsletter & purchase of skipping ropes, footballs, frisbees and other home based items;Sports day. | |
| Wicklow | Combining National Play Day with Street Feast. People are invited to host a tea party on their doorsteps, front garden for green space. Street games and outdoor play will take place along with play equipment and sensory packs being provided to the community. |
