links

advocacy

American Association for the Child's Right to Play (IPA/USA) - http://www.ipausa.org

American affiliate to IPA. Promotes, preserves and protects child's right to play. Advocates and provides resources in recess, after school issues, special needs populations, playground design, playdays and more.

Children & Young People's Participation Learning Network: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/solar

A network which brings together practitioners, policy-makers, academics and other researchers, and children and young people to stimulate thinking, policy and practice concerning children's and young people's participation.

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) – see http://www.crin.org/

The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is a global network that disseminates information about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and child rights amongst non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organisation (IGOs), educational institutions, and other child rights experts. The Coordinating Unit is based in London, UK.

Defence for Children International – see http://www.dci-is.org

Defence for Children International is dedicated to ensuring on-going, practical, systematic and concerted international action directed towards promoting and protecting the rights of the child, as articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), its optional protocols, and all the other human rights instruments.

European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) – see http://www.ombudsnet.org/enoc/

International Council for Children’s Play (ICCP) – http://www.iccp-play.org - problems with website?

ICCP was founded in Germany in 1959. While the formation of the organisation was based on concern about children's toys, its interest soon expanded to include other dimensions of children's play and factors that influence it.

International Bureau for Children's Rights: http://www.ibcr.org

A non-governmental children's rights organisation.

International Pediatrics Association – see http://www.ipa-world.org/

International Play Association (IPA) - http://www.ipaworld.org .

Parent organization with nearly 50 country affiliates supporting Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Promotes play as a fundamental human right.

International Toy Library Association (ITLA) – see http://www.itla-toylibraries.org/

ITLA (ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE DES LUDOTHEQUES) was created in 1990 in Torino during the 5th international conference of toy libraries.

International Save the Children Alliance – see http://www.savethechildren.net/alliance/index.html

Save the Children fights for children's rights. We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives worldwide.

Kidsafe - http://www.kidsafensw.org/ 

OMEP – World Organisation for Early Childhood Education – see http://www.omep-ong.net/

Part of the Global Alliance for the Education of Young Children (includes school-aged children). OMEP is an international, non-governmental and non-profit organisation concerned with all aspects of early childhood education and care (ECEC)

Plan International - http://www.plan-international.org/

Improving children’s lives in developing countries; based on child sponsorship

Policy Library - Children and Family Policy section: http://www.policylibrary.com/familyandchildren.

An international social, economic and foreign policy resource. Contains research reports and job advertisements. Also has sections on education, health, the voluntary sector, etc.

Right to Play (Olympic Aid) – see www.righttoplay.com

This organisation was formed in 1992 to give support to children in war torn countries and areas of distress.

UNICEF – see http://www.unicef.org/ -

The United Nations Children's Fund including voices of youth: http://www.unicef.org/young/ Runs projects designed to improve children's quality of life through education, health promotion, child protection, etc.

UNICEF - Child-friendly Cities Movement http://www.childfriendlycities.org/about/index.html

The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) was launched in 1996 to act on the resolution passed during the second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) to make cities liveable places for all; in UNICEF terms, for "children first." The Conference declared that the well-being of children is the ultimate indicator of a healthy habitat, a democratic society and of good governance.”

UNIFEM – http://www.unifem.org/

UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality.

UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, see http://unesco.org/

World Health Organisation - WHO – see http://www.who.int/en/

WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.

World Leisure Association (Commission on Children and Youth) - see http://www.worldleisure.org/

Founded in 1952, World Leisure, is a world-wide, non-governmental association of persons and organizations dedicated to discovering and fostering those conditions best permitting leisure to serve as a force for human growth, development and well-being.

WorldPlay - http://www.worldplay.org .

Educating children about worldwide cultures, traditions, lifestyles through handmade toys created by children.

australian

ABC for kids – http://www.abc.net.au/children/

The Bubblesphere - http://www.bubbles.org  .

Everything you want to know about bubbles including history, games and recipes for bubble solutions.

Games Kids Play - http://www.gameskidsplay.net  .

Playground games, jump rope rhymes, international games, historic implications.

Origami – what can I say?

http://www.tammyyee.com/origami.html
http://www.paperfolding.com/math/

Paper aeroplanes – woo hoo!

http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/
http://www.paperplane.org/
http://www.bestpaperairplanes.com/

String -

http://www.alysion.org/string.htm
http://www.alysion.org/figures/introkids.htm

museums

Fun Science Gallery - http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/toys/toys.htm .

Historic games, toys, how to make your own, drawings, play. Includes other countries.

research

AECA Australian Early Childhood Education - http://www.aeca.org.au/

CIEC Contemporary Issues In Early Childhood - http://www.wwwords.co.uk/ciec/

Playing for Keeps - http://www.playingforkeeps.org/ .

Helps bridge the gap between what researchers have learned about play and what parents and professionals who impact children's lives need to know.

TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment) - http://www.truceteachers.org .

National group of educators concerned with violent play and how it affects children in the classroom. Excellent downloadable Toy Action Guide filled with ideas for safe, non-violent play.

Fair Play for Children - http://www.fairplayforchildren.org/ .

Play Action journal and guides contain information on current play issues, policy, safety, and play environments.

safety

Standards Australia - http://www.standards.com.au

National Association for Playground Safety (NPPS) - http://www.playgroundsafety.org .

NPPS serves as a public resource for the latest in information on playground safety and injury prevention.

special needs

Access Solutions International http://www.asnpl.com.au

Fun-Attic, Inc. - http://www.funattic.com .

Extensive game list including products and adaptations for special
need population.

TFH (USA) Ltd.- http://tfhusa.com .

Multi-sensory environments, products and ideas for special education experts.