Don’t downplay ‘play’: Reasons Why Health Systems Should Protect Childhood Play

Lasse Nielsen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Much research has studied the importance of play for children's development. However, questions of its political importance and our public institutions' duties to protect it have been largely neglected. This article argues that childhood play is politically important due to having both intrinsic and instrumental value, and it suggests that the duty to protect the capability for play in childhood falls especially on the public health system. If this argument succeeds, it follows that we have stronger duties toward our children than we currently believe.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Journal of Medicine & Philosophy
Volume46
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)586-604
ISSN0360-5310
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • child development
  • health systems
  • play
  • social determinants of health
  • social inequality
  • Play and Playthings
  • Humans
  • Child Development
  • Child

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