Celebrating all kids’ Right to Play on World Children’s Day 2025
We all know play is fun, but did you know it’s also important for your health and learning? Play is an essential right for children across the world – but what is keeping so many from playfulness?
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Just like adults, children have a set of rights* – including the Right to Play. But why is play recognised as an essential right for children?
Believe it or not, there are 54 child rights written out in a major global agreement known as the United Nations’ Convention* on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention is an important agreement by countries that committed to protecting children’s rights. It explains who children are, all their rights and the responsibilities of governments.
Included in this important, global agreement is the right of every child to rest, relax, play and take part in cultural and creative activities.
WHY IS PLAY A RIGHT?
Play is how children learn, grow, connect and heal. It’s a universal* right – every child has the right to play, no matter who they are or where they live.
Yet millions of children around the world miss out on this basic right due to conflict, displacement*, inequality* or lack of safe spaces.
Protecting a child’s right to play means protecting their right to a full, healthy and happy childhood.
UNICEF* is mandated* by the United Nations to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
WHY CHILDREN NEED SPECIFIC RIGHTS
Childhood is a unique time in life. From birth until the age of 18, children should have the chance to grow, learn, play and thrive in safe and protected environments.
Children aren’t just future adults or people being looked after – they are individuals and members of the community.
Because children cannot vote or take part in politics, their voices need special attention. Otherwise, they will be left unheard on the things that matter most to them and the decisions for their future.
Today, 196 countries have pledged to keep their promise to children, making it the most widely ratified* human rights treaty in history.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is at the heart of UNICEF’s work for children around the world.
This year for World Children’s Day, UNICEF Australia is inviting every child across Australia to raise their voices for A Minute of Loudness about their Right to Play.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY
Article 31 of the CRC: Rest, play, culture, arts states: “Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.”
Play is not just fun, it’s essential for a child’s development, health and overall wellbeing.
Through play, children learn and build important life skills – from problem-solving, to expressing ideas, strengthening connections and sparking creativity.
What may seem like simple fun is actually serious learning and growth that prepares children for the challenges and opportunities they’ll face as they grow up.
In fact, 71 per cent of children say play makes them happy and 58 per cent say it helps them make friends and enjoy time with others. But even though play is recognised as a right, it is not as universally enjoyed as it should be.
Did you know?
* One in five children aged two to four don’t play with their parents or caregivers at home
* One in eight children under five do not have toys or play things at home
* 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning
* Only one in four children play outside today, compared to their grandparents’ generation where three in four played outside a few times a week
Head of UNICEF Catherine Russell said play was a sign that children felt safe, nurtured and loved.
“They feel somewhat that they can be children even in the midst of great difficulty,” she said.
WHY KIDS AREN’T GETTING TO PLAY
Despite its importance, play is often overlooked. Children face several barriers that stop them from exercising their right to play:
* Play is undervalued
Play may not be considered educational by some people, though research shows play-based learning is a powerful way for children to learn and grow.
* We spend less time outdoors
Urbanisation*, safety concerns, climate change and increased screen time have reduced outdoor play. Today, children enjoy less outdoor play than previous generations.
* A difficult home situation
Without access to outdoor play, children can be left indoors – and for those without safe or nurturing homes they may be more vulnerable to abuse. In some parts of the world these children face risks like child labour* or marriage.
These barriers are reversible and preventable, and it is up to each country and government to make sure they make play a priority. It can be as simple as making public places safe and adding play into school time.
This World Children’s Day, UNICEF Australia invites every child to take part in A Minute of Loudness to celebrate their Right to Play and raise their voices for a world where every child can feel safe, supported and free to be themselves.
For more information about child rights: unicef.org.au/unicef-youth/what-are-child-rights
Join Kids News tomorrow, when we’ll take a closer look at how play contributes to an overall healthy wellbeing for children, both physically and mentally.
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GLOSSARY
- rights: a moral or legal entitlement to have something or do something
- United Nations Convention: written, legal agreements created by the United Nations and different countries that set out the rights of different groups of people
- universal: applying to people of all backgrounds, nationalities, genders and abilities
- displacement: being forced to leave your home and move somewhere else because of reasons outside of your control like war or climate events
- inequality: when different groups of people aren't treated equally in society, with some facing poverty, hunger or lack of fair education
- UNICEF: the United Nations Children’s Fund, a UN agency that works to protect the rights of all children, especially those who are disadvantaged
- mandated: given authority to do something
- ratified: signed a treaty
- urbanisation: the spread of cities across areas that used to be full of nature or used for farming
- child labour: employing children to work in business or industry, especially if it means the child doesn’t get to go to school or play games and have a normal childhood
EXTRA READING
Day of Play: let the games begin
Make every day an RU OK? Day
How to give growing brains a rest
QUICK QUIZ
1. Why is play important for kids?
2. How has play been formally protected as a right for kids across the world?
3. How can you celebrate your right to play?
4. How many kids around the world are working instead of playing or learning?
5. What are two reasons kids aren’t getting the opportunity to play?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Ways to play
Work with a friend to brainstorm lots of different ways that children can play. Think about including a wide variety of activities such as indoor and outdoor ways to play; no equipment and low equipment ways to play; active and calm ways to play; creative ways to play; messy ways to play; and so on.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
2. Extension
Choose your best ‘Ways to play’ ideas and turn them into a mini book for kids or parents who want to expand their ideas for play.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English
VCOP ACTIVITY
BAB it!
Show you have read and understood the article by writing three sentences using the connectives “because’’, “and”, and “but” (BAB). Your sentences can share different facts or opinions, or the same ones but written about in different ways.