Joy and fun in childhood are not just “nice to haves”; they are a necessity! At BBC Children in Need, we’ve seen first-hand the difference they can make. 

Play, socialisation and happiness offer major benefits that set young people up for a healthier and more successful life, whatever their current or future challenges.

Why joy and fun are so important 

We know that thousands of children across the UK live with a range of significant challenges, including physical or mental health issues, inequality, financial insecurity and problems at home.  

According to recent research, feeling loved and having supportive relationships with family and friends is consistently ranked as the top priority for a happy life by children. 

However: 

• 9% of children aged 10–17 currently report low overall well-being.
• Average scores for happiness with family and friends have declined compared to previous years.
• Friendship satisfaction is dropping, too. Children’s happiness with friends has fallen significantly since 2009/10.

Our Insight team has identified just some of the key reasons why trusted adults should focus on joy and fun to help improve a child’s well-being: 

• It is crucial for healthy development, both physical and mental.
• It drives learning, cognitive, social and emotional growth, language. 
• It helps young people to develop self-regulation. 
• It builds and strengthens a sense of belonging – breaking down barriers and fostering creativity and inclusion.
• It can be used as an act of everyday resistance against the negative attitudes and areas of life to which a child may be exposed. 
• It offers new and interesting ways to ensure children and young people engage in positive, healthy behaviours and activities.

Let’s explore these elements in a little more detail. 

Healthy development 

When children and young people are able to find respite and achieve a sense of escape from their challenges, they are more likely to develop healthy coping mechanisms and an understanding of how to manage the negative aspects of life.

Learning 

Joy and fun help to build incredibly important skills in early life, boosting children’s cognitive competence (improving their creativity and problem‑solving abilities), physicality (including fitness and motor skills), social intelligence (such as a stronger grasp of empathy and the concept of sharing), and emotional capacity (for example, the ability to express themselves and develop a sense of self‑worth).

Self-regulation 

Self-regulation refers to a person’s ability to recognise their own emotions and manage them healthily, which is why it is such a key skill for children to learn.  

If a young person regularly engages with activities that involve joy and fun, they are more likely to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the things that inspire, calm or cheer them up – as well as the areas of life that cause them stress. 

This can improve their ability to handle negative emotions and boost their mood independently. 

Belonging 

A sense of belonging is vital to help children learn to be part of a wider society for the first time. 

Interactive experiences and play aid in the development of empathy, a sense of fairness and inclusivity, and an understanding of the way a community functions.

Resistance 

Through the social and personal sides of joy and fun, children and young people can learn to defy the limited expectations that would otherwise undermine their experience of life.

Ways to engage 

Joy and fun can also be very helpful tools for adults seeking to include young people in positive, constructive activities. After all, who isn’t more likely to engage with ideas and activities that bring a sense of happiness and fulfillment? 

What you can do 

There are all kinds of ways to spark joy and fun in the children and young people we spend time with. BBC Children in Need has a little advice for those hoping to make a difference in this way: 

1. Let them lead 

While it’s a good idea for trusted adults to make suggestions when it comes to potential activities, it’s important to regularly give young people the opportunity to put forward their own thoughts and ideas. This can enable them to discover positive interests and perspectives that may stay with them for life.  

BBC Children in Need supports a range of Youth Social Action initiatives that put young people in the driving seat and champion them as change-makers. 

2. Encourage exploration 

Trying something new and challenging can help to build confidence, broaden horizons and boost learning and development. It can also aid in resilience; these things don’t always work out the first time, but the more you try, the more rewarding they get! 

Check out our website to find all kinds of great downloadable activities and resources! 

3. Get creative 

Engaging with creative activities can help children to understand themselves better, find new ways to look at the world or simply relax and enjoy a little respite. 

Our super-accessible and fun Pudsey crafts offer plenty of things to create! 

4. Move 

Physical activity releases endorphins, which are hormones that help to reduce stress and improve relaxation. They’re also great for your health, of course! 

Explore just a few ways you can encourage a young person to get moving. 

5. Remember to reflect 

It’s a great idea to check in regularly with a child or young person about how they feel. This will help them to recognise their own feelings and emotions and learn how to communicate and manage them. 

Try out Pudsey’s Pause with the children in your life to help them Pause, Spot and Share their feelings and emotions. 

At BBC Children in Need, we fund projects and people that make a positive difference to the lives of children. Much of that work involves providing opportunities for joy and fun that are both transformative and protective. 

These can include: 

• Facilitating positive relationships and mentoring – giving young people someone to talk to about their worries. 

• Getting young people out and about through sports and nature. 

• Offering new options for self-expression – from the creative arts to boxing, surfing and more. 

• Delivering counselling and therapy for young people going through difficult times. 

• Providing respite for young carers and those living with illnesses or problems at home. 

• Offering guidance and support with education. 

The youth work that we support takes place in safe spaces, is delivered by trusted adults and features inclusive approaches.  

98% of the young attendees of our funded projects feel happy when they are there. 

64% feel included and like they belong – and 61% say they have made new friends! 

Here, you can learn more about the youth workers we fund and what they do to promote joy and fun in the lives of children and young people in their local area.

The difference you make: 

We want to fund as much work as possible that promotes joy and fun, allowing children and young people to experience their huge benefits. 

However, at the moment, we have to turn down requests for funding because we don’t have enough money to help every organisation that applies to us. Your donations enable us to support more people and projects – including vital youth work – to transform young lives for the better. 

Please help us to keep providing opportunities for fun and joy to children across the UK, including where you are. 

Thank you.