In 1989, the United Nations recognized that as part of a child’s essential human rights, he or she has the right “to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and arts.”

So why is play so essential to a child’s development that the U.N. would list it as a human right?

Children’s Right To Play

Playtime is more than meets the eye, because play and learning go hand in hand. Think back to science classes you had in school. There was the lecture and then the lab where you put what you heard during lecture into practical experience. Playtime is a child’s lab where they can experiment and grow.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that play helps children, “learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills.”

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child states that education includes developmental areas like personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities. Play has an essential role in the emotional, educational and developmental traits of an individual.

What You Can Do For Your Child

How do you support your children’s right to play? Here’s a few ways you can ensure that your child has ample access to beneficial play:

  • Give your children at least 30 minutes of unscheduled time each day to be creative, to reflect and to decompress.
  • Turn off the TV and electronics. Passive entertainment does not have the same benefits as active play. Make sure that your child has the opportunity to run around, play tag, play make-believe, or just get moving.
  • Buy your child toys that encourage imagination and creativity, like dolls, blocks, playhouses and play systems.

Want to experience the power of active play in person? Visit your local Rainbow Play Systems of Texas showroom to let your child sample our Rainbow Play Systems.