Perspectives on Children's Play in a Refugee Camp

According to data from the Norwegian Refugee Council, more than 70 million people are refugees today. Approximately half of these are children, and every five seconds a new child becomes a refugee. An increasing large number of children live parts of their childhood in a refugee camp with limited opportunities for play. This article highlights the importance of play for children living as refugees. The study was conducted during the winter of 2017 in a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. The importance of a trusting relationship between children and adults is emphasised in the data regarding children’s play. Furthermore, the data stresses how adults can facilitate children to make experiences through play and create meaning in an everyday life controlled by factors outside the child and the child's family. An important issue is to highlight the opportunities children have to create meaning and experiences in a difficult life situation.