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The听new study, titled 'A Place to Play: Children鈥檚 Play Needs in England鈥檚 Temporary Housing', was published by听The听Reach Alliance.听The Reach Alliance was founded in 2015 at the University of Toronto鈥檚 Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in partnership with the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth. It is a student-driven, faculty-mentored research and leadership initiative aimed at addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which UCL joined in 2021.

The new report examined how living in temporary accommodation hinders play in children under five years old and, consequently, adversely affects their psychological and physical development.

There are currently over 130,000 children living in temporary housing in England. And the country鈥檚 cost of living and housing crisis has had a significant impact on local and national capacity to provide suitable accommodation, both temporary (for households at risk of homelessness) and permanent.

The researchers interviewed 16 professional stakeholders in various areas connected to temporary accommodation 鈥� including health, academia, and housing. They also spoke to three families with lived experience.

They found that physical space is crucial for children鈥檚 physical development, supporting their gross motor skills and ability to be able to engage in play.

Additionally, play was shown to be important for stimulating social skills, personal agency, and healthy conflict 鈥� which could be important for mitigating some of the negative impacts of isolation associated with living in temporary accommodation.

However, living in temporary accommodation means that play isn鈥檛 always a priority or an option.

Temporary accommodation can hinder play in a number of ways, including a lack of physical space, mental health issues (such as depression or anxiety), and strict visitor policies that do not allow children to invite over their peers.

The team found that living in temporary accommodation affects the psychological well-being of both parents and children, leading to feelings of guilt, unhappiness, and a loss of agency 鈥� inhibiting the ability to play.

Meanwhile, children living in temporary accommodation may feel isolated from their peers, and have unconventional development trajectories.

Co-author, former MPA student, Lorenzo Dall鈥橭mo (UCL Institute of Innovation & Public Purpose), said: 鈥淭he discourse around the housing crisis has always centered around a lack of affordable housing for private tenants, but rarely on the struggle faced by families, let alone children.

鈥淲ith crucial phases of their early development spent trapped in unsuitable accommodation, these children are growing up without space to crawl and walk, let alone play. However, this can have immediate and lasting consequences for both their physical and mental development.鈥�

Consequently, researchers have made several policy recommendations to tackle the problem of play in temporary accommodation.

These include: implementing low-cost, positive interventions to support the immediate play needs of those currently in temporary accommodation (such as making existing spaces more suitable for play and supporting management referrals to community service providers with play specialties); encouraging play in temporary accommodation as an interdisciplinary focus area for collaboration across public, private, and third-sector authorities; and recognising children鈥檚 play needs as spanning the housing sector and the health, economic, and social spheres.

The team is also calling for human bonds and relationship building to be placed at the forefront of tackling the housing crisis and better supporting children鈥檚 play needs.

Mr Dall鈥橭mo said: 鈥淔rom the data gathered, it is clear that there is yet immense work to be done to tackle the problem of play in temporary accommodation.

鈥淲hile, of course, the long-term answer is systemic and implies a radical overhaul of the current housing system, there are many more immediate answers that could gradually pave the way 鈥� whilst simultaneously improving the play condition of children in temporary accommodation.鈥�

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听尝颈苍办蝉

• Report published by听
• Article in i News:听
• UCL scales up activity with global Reach Alliance
• Lorenzo D'all Omo's academic profile