Latest

 . . . such a beautifully written and compelling account of a remarkable story of collaborative inquiry into confidence, well-being and the Scottish psyche. Every illuminating chapter is rich with creative initiatives, humane insights, remarkable thinkers and practitioners and honest reflection. . . (a) superb book. 

Will Storrar, Director, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey  

This is a limited edition book which won't be reprinted. So order your copy of this handsome, hardback book now with £10 off RRP. 

TO ORDER BORN TO PLAY please click here

Play is a necessity (indeed a biological imperative) for children and young people to develop into the rounded human beings we all want them to become. The predisposition to play can be found regardless of the situations in which children find themselves: play can blossom even in the most adverse circumstances. 

 
The book aims to reach a wide number of readers who would like to find out more about play including those with an interest in what digital play is squeezing out of children’s repertoire and to provide an understanding of what makes children born to play. 

 
Tam Baillie is a member of the International Play Association World Board. He was previously Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. 

John H. McKendrick is a Professor in Social Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University. 

 
Contributors to Born to Play include Sue Palmer from Upstart, Marguerite Hunter Blair CEO of Play Scotland, Dr Lynn J. McNair, Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, Cameron Sprague from Stramash and Robyn Monro Miller and Theresa Casey who both hold senior positions in the International Play Association. 

To whet your appetite here's one enthusiastic endorsement -

‘For the authors of this snappy collection – an “A List” of play champions from Scotland and beyond – the personal is playful is political. The result is an engaging tapestry that weaves together impassioned argument and moving testimony to highlight the centrality of play in the lives of all children everywhere.’ 

Tim Gill, author of Urban Playground: How child- friendly planning and design can save cities 

(For PLAY IS THE WAY orders click here)

Tuesday 20th May 2025, 5.30-7.30 pm

St George's Tron Church of Scotland

163 Buchanan Street (Nelson Mandela Place) Glasgow G1 2JX 

Tickets £6 from Eventbrite where you can book and read more information on the event.

Scotland is facing a crisis in child development, and this is of vital importance to anyone who cares about Scotland's future. Scotland cannot be a vibrant, productive, well-functioning society unless we can improve the experience of children as what happens in childhood has enormous repercussions for future health and well-being.

Alan Sinclair has worked closely with the Centre for Confidence and Well-being for the past fifteen years and has written one of the Postcards from Scotland books - Right from the Start: Investing in parents and babies. His interest in early years policies developed when he was Head of Skills for Scottish Enterprise and interested in the development of the type of skills employers were looking for. He quickly learned that these were developed in the early years and that investing in this age group gave much higher returns for society than university education.

Alan has been worried for years about the poor start in life that blights many Scots children. But he has become acutely concerned since the Scottish Government published new data from Health Visitors a few months ago.

Alan Sinclair is fearful of what the Health Visitors data show but also thinks it can be a source of hope as it provides firm evidence of the problem we need to address and the straightforward remedies.

Carol Craig published The Scots' Crisis of Confidence in 2003 and set up the Centre in 2004. But, as she explains in her new book A Time of Hope: The story of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being, she now thinks that confidence is the least of Scotland's problems. She also believes that the way that Scotland has historically treated its children is the key to understanding many of Scotland's health and social problems including the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol. She has been heavily influenced by the argument that Alan Sinclair sets out in Right from the Start.

Carol will chair the event and present a few of her own thoughts following Alan Sinclair's presentation. There will be plenty time for questions and discussion.

We hope that you will join us on the 20th of May for an interesting and important presentation and subsequent discussion.