UN’s International Day of Play
Published 07 June 2024
The United Nations (UN) is promoting the importance of play by adopting an official International Day of Play to champion and protect children’s right to play on June 11 2024. The intent driving the initiative is to enable all children to have the time, space and support they need to enjoy the highly beneficial activity of play.
There is clear evidence that play can boost self-esteem, creativity and happiness levels in kids. Among children, 71% say that play is important because it makes them happy, and 58% say it helps them make friends and have a good time with others (UN, 2024).
However, sadly, an estimated 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning. Furthermore, only one in four kids play regularly on their street, compared with their grandparents’ generation where almost three quarters said they played outside a few times a week. And 41% of children have been told to stop playing outside by either their parents or other adults, such as neighbours (UN, 2024).
