Children’s Coping, Adaptation and Resilience through Play in Situations of Crisis

Abstract

This paper discusses findings from an international, six-country research project that was undertaken by the International Play Association (IPA) to increase understanding of children’s play needs in situations of conflict including natural, humanitarian and man-made disasters and persistent everyday hazards. The findings of this research confirm the importance of space, time, permission and resources as conditions for access to play even in situations of crisis. The study further illustrates children’s adaptive capacity to manage risks in high-risk, unsafe environments through play, first as a coping mechanism and over time as a process of building resilience.