At A Place in Childhood, we spend a lot of time listening to young people tell us about what they need to thrive. One thing is always clear: teenagers need to play. They might not call it that (they say they’re “hanging out” or “gaming”), but they’re exploring, creating, connecting, and boundary-testing—just as younger children do.
In my chapter for the new book Born to Play (edited by Prof John McKendrick and Tam Bailiie), I explore how our current approach to teenage play is failing them. Worse, many of the challenges teenagers face in public life are shaped by policies, environments, and adult attitudes that deny their right to play—and then penalise them for responding to that exclusion. I call this a form of state-sanctioned anti-social behaviour against teenagers.
We Blame Teenagers for the Barriers We Create
Too often, teenagers are portrayed as the problem—when in reality, the core issues lies in:
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Adult misinterpretations of teenage behaviour, rooted in fear or discomfort
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A lack of safe, welcoming, and unstructured public space
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Ongoing cuts to youth services and play opportunities, particularly for those who need them most
In our Teenagers and Public Space and Enabling Independent Active Travel projects, young people repeatedly told us how hard it is to feel welcome in their own communities. And we see clearly that their play is too often policed, designed out, or simply ignored.
Play is a Right, Not a Perk
This chapter isn’t a defence of poor behaviour – it’s a call to understand the deeper causes of teenage disaffection. If we deny teenagers their basic human need and right to play, it should come as no surprise that they push boundaries elsewhere.
Play is not a childish indulgence. It is how young people make sense of the world, form relationships, and build confidence. When we take that away, the consequences ripple across society.
Read the Full Argument in Born to Play
If this resonates, I’d love for you to read the full chapter and hear from other brilliant contributors who make the case that play must be central to how we raise, support, and work with children and young people.
And if you’re working in planning, youth services, or policy, let’s talk. At APiC, we support professionals and communities to meaningfully engage teenagers in shaping their places and futures—always with play and rights at the centre. You can contact me at jenny.wood@aplaceinchildhood.org