By Anna Diofasi, Humanitas Global
Play is one of the most powerful elements of early childhood development. It has a profound impact on a child’s health, cognitive development, self-esteem and life skills - yet play rarely takes a central role on the international development agenda. Article 31 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to “rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities…and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” However, poor recognition of the importance of play by governments and international organizations has resulted in a lack of investment in opportunities for play in many developing countries. This is unfortunate, since the universal benefits of play for children could be instrumental in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Giving children more opportunities to play could support efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (MDG #1) through fostering their creativity, self-confidence, leadership and cognitive skills. Children with greater cognitive skills will perform better at school and will have a better chance of earning a good income later in life. Thus encouraging play could help children escape the poverty trap and lead healthier, happier lives.
Play can also be a tool to promote gender equality and to empower women (MDG #3). Girls learn important negotiation skills during play that can help them secure better positions in their families and communities as they grow older. Play allows young women to build social connections outside of their homes, reducing their vulnerability and improving their social status. Engaging in play and physical activities can help dismantle gender stereotypes through showing that girls are just as physically and mentally capable as boys. Sadly, girls around the world are often discouraged from participating in physical activity and face barriers to participating in sports and play. The international community needs to address this issue and encourage access to play for all children across the globe.
Efforts to achieve universal primary education and ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling (MDG #2) can also be reinforced through play. Recent studies have shown that play is associated with improved attention in class. Play during early childhood has also been shown to improve children’s language and problem-solving skills, leading to better academic performance. Therefore, children who are given the opportunity to play have a better chance at performing well in school and staying in school longer. The important links between play and educational attainment need to be communicated better to parents and policymakers.
Too often, play is seen as an unproductive activity of no intrinsic worth, while it could be an essential tool in unlocking children’s full potential in both developed and developing countries. We need to give children around the world a chance to play, not only because it is their right, but also because of the transformative role children’s play can have on their development – from fighting hunger to promoting better education.
