Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes “the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” The highest international body upholds play as vital for children. Yet in Santa Barbara, this right is obstructed by Santa Barbara Unified School District closing their campuses after school and on weekends, preventing kids from being able to meet and play in their neighborhoods.
Closed campuses are most apparent in our Eastside and Westside communities where access to safe and sufficient parks and open spaces is limited. Both Harding Elementary and La Cumbre Junior High remain surrounded by fences, despite the fact that 13 percent of the district’s students are homeless or living in distressed housing situations. Those children who don’t have homes to return to should have the ability to meet with other children after school hours to run and play. This is a simple step Santa Barbara Unified can take to ensure the health and physical and mental wellness of our community’s children.
Play is the way children learn to engage and interact with the world around them. They learn how to collaborate and get along with their peers, they experiment and try new activities. They discover new activities and sports and identify their interests. Moreover, play promotes physical activity. Kids burn twice as many calories when outdoors vs. indoors. Healthy bodies create healthy minds which positively influences youth mental health.