Conference Aims:

The title of the 17th IPA World Conference is "Play in a Changing World". The conference will provide world-wide perspectives on the nature, role and value of child play with particular reference to emerging social, political, economic, environmental, technological and health trends. It will give health care providers, play practitioners, social workers, hospital play specialists, toy designers and suppliers, toy librarians, school teachers/assistants, counsellors, educational psychologists, playground suppliers/inspectors, landscape designers, architects, ICT professionals, engineers, policy makers, scholars in relevant fields and parents a platform to engage in issues at the heart of current discussions of child play, and it will encourage the exchange of ideas, knowledge and practice from different cultures and countries, especially Greater China and East Asia.

Presentation Styles

  1. Oral Presentation – research, scholarship or projects related to play. Time limit: 15 minutes.
  2. Workshop – Demonstration of skills and hands-on play programmes on topics related to conference sub-themes. Workshop leaders should offer ample opportunity for audience participation. Time limit: 45 minutes.
  3. Poster Presentation – Research, scholarly work, or unique photo-essays.
  4. Project Exhibition – Display of materials, equipment and products, etc. of innovative play projects.
  5. Video Clips – Self-explanatory clips showing project details or children at play. Total running time: not more than 10 minutes.

Deadline for Abstract Submissions
31 October 2007

Conference Languages
English and Chinese; simultaneous interpretation both ways will be provided