International Day of Play celebrated with calls for more playtime

UNICEF representative to Kenya Shaheen Nilofer speaks at Shauri Moyo Primary School when marking International Day of Play on June 11, 2024. [Samson Wire Standard]

Shaheen called for policy implementations that ensure all malls and public buildings have space where children can engage in play.

"It's also important to ensure children with disabilities also enjoy play," she said, encouraging children to minimize time spent on gadgets like mobile phones, and asked parents to join their children in play.

Experts say that our current culture is less friendly to play and that children may be unable to explore all its possibilities: Elizabeth Waitha is Education Officer with UNICEF, Kenya.

"There's a need for all of us to come together and ensure that children are engaged in meaningful play and not just as an afterthought. The community and government need to work with children to invent games and spaces to be more creative and innovative to create collaboration, leadership skills, and creativity," says Elizabeth.

Nilofer says play builds essential and transferable physical, social, cognitive, communication, and emotional life skills at all ages, and its positive impact on promoting tolerance and resilience and facilitating social inclusion, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding.

She called on all Kenyans to acknowledge that play and recreation are essential to the health and well-being of children and promote the development of creativity, imagination, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and a sense of responsibility, as well as physical, social, cognitive, communication, and emotional strength and skills.

Dr. Gichuri Ndegwa, representing the Ministry of Education, said the government is committed to supporting play. "Physical education (PE) is part of the curriculum," he said.

The Deputy Director of Special Education, Maulid Ali, said the government gives grants and bursaries to place children with disabilities in inclusive setups in areas of play and has adapted special games for learners with disabilities.