As part of its initiative to create a much-needed sustainable play space in in Accra, Ghana, Mmofra Foundation interviewed children, teenagers and parents in the Dzorwulu neighbourhood about play habits, facilities and requirements.

1. PLAY TIME IN AFRICA PROJECT
A Survey of Dzorwulu Community, Accra

2. Survey on play patterns
• The survey was done in 6 days over a period
of 4 weeks between 19th April to 27th May
2012
• It involved:
• Interviews with children and adults
• Observation of activities by children

3. Aims
• To find out what both children and adults think
about play – their ideas
• To enquire about current trends in play activities
• To observe activities of children in various play
spaces

4. Views about importance of play
Why play?
 Play develops the mental abilities of children.
A child who does not play may have mental inabilities
 Play creates fun .
“All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy”.
 Play provides an avenue for kids to exercise their
bodies.
 Play teaches important skills that are useful in future
adult life
 It also provides avenues for learning

5. Popular games among kids
Police and thief
Football
Ampe
Draughts
Running around
skipping
see-saw
swings

6. Interview with some children on some games they play

7. Some are restricted
to computer games

8. Boys playing football

9. Adults could remember a number of traditional
games children did not have good ideas of
traditional games such as:
oware,
antoakyire,
Chaskele etc

10. Teen Activities
Popular activities
seen among teens are
chatting
phone texting
 TV
Social networking
especially
Facebooking

13. Amusement park

14. Places for play in schools

15. Types of parks
Dzorwulu primary Awiase Park (beneath the Pylons)

16. Different types of home spaces

17. Children playing by the street

18. RESPONSES FROM CHILDREN
ABOUT PLAYGROUND THE PROJECT

19. • Some expressed the desire to have a park
with play equipments, and comfortable
places to sit.
• Most kids went to some of their neighbors
house to play especially those houses which
had seesaw and swings.

20. • They suggested that a playground should be
opened during vacations and on Saturdays
from morning to evening and also suggested it
should be free.
• Children also suggested the playgrounds
should have foods such as Jollof, Banku, Rice
and Stew, ice cream.

21. RESPONSES FROM PARENTS

22. • Showed interest since there is no facility
except one private one
• While some showed interest in the
introduction of traditional games, others
thought that children might not be interested
since their generation is interested in
computer games.

23. • Some parents were of the opinion that some
amount of supervision will be useful when
children play at the faculty, that is older
children should not be allowed to play with
kids toys etc.
• A library faculty was also suggested so that
children will not spend all their vacation time
or Saturdays just playing when they visit the
playground

24. • All adults and parents were of the view that
some amount should be paid for maintenance
and to pay guides although the amount
should not be exorbitant.
• Some parents suggested guides in the
playground to see to the welfare of children
and also to prevent them for over using the
facilities.

25. • Parents showed concern for the kind of food
and drinks which would be provided for their
kids and how safe they were for the children.
• Mostly, parents raised the issue of
security, how were their kids playing, who
they were playing with and how safe the
environment in general was for them to leave
their kids.

27. 1. Although there are designated places for
play, accessibility is limited because of the
following:
– Lack of play equipment
– Competition for space with adults
– Commercial/affordability
– Accessibility to school playgrounds are limited to
school hours

28. 2. Children will play in whatever space they
find available
3. As much as parents agree on the importance
of play for children, the idea of play is not
associated with learning

29. 4. Lack of structured play for young adults
accounts for their lack of interest in play. As
children grow older play activities involves
the use of physical energy hence play needs
to be more structured.
5. Media and Technology also contribute to the
demise in play activities among children.
6. 7. When spaces are not created for play it
could lead to restricted

30. Survey conducted by:
Naa Dodua Darku
Abena Kyere
Afrakomah Boakye Ansah
THANK YOU.