Children learn best through play. Play creates powerful learning opportunities across all areas of development – intellectual, social, emotional and physical.  Whilst this is not “new news’ to us as parents and educators, we are reminded of the benefits in early childhood development.

Across the world, children’s lives are becoming increasingly scheduled, screened, and structured. Academic pressure, digital distraction, shrinking public spaces, and economic hardship all chip away at the one thing children are hardwired to do: play freely. Yet play is not a pause from development — it is development.

This year’s International Day of Play carries a theme that cuts to the heart of what’s at stake: “Protect play, protect childhood.” It’s a call to parents, educators, policymakers, and communities to treat play not as a reward for good behaviour or a gap between more serious activities — but as a right, a need ,and a gift.

Interesting facts:

• 75% of brain development occurs in the first 5 years of life
• +30% boost in problem solving skills linked to regular unstructured play
• 1 in 3 children globally lack access to safe outdoor spaces

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The campaign theme reminds us that happy, healthy childhoods depend on three interconnected conditions. Strip away any one of them, and the whole equation changes.

1. Safe spaces

Children cannot truly play when they feel unsafe —physically or emotionally. This means parks free from traffic and hazards, neighbourhoods where children can roam without fear, and home environments where imaginative chaos is welcomed rather than constantly curtailed. Safety is the non-negotiable floor beneath all play.

2. Unstructured time

Over-scheduling is one of modern childhood’s quiet threats. Children need long, unhurried stretches of time with no agenda — time in which boredom can tip into invention, and curiosity can follow its own path wherever it leads.

3. Encouragement to play

Children look to adults to understand what matters. When we prioritise homework over imagination, screens over muddy knees, and productivity over play, we send a message. When we join in, step back, and make space — we send a different, vital one.

An interesting article written by Maggie Dent recently shared that if our children lack movement in the first 2 years of life, the following can occur:

·     delayed motor development

·     poor co-ordination/ balance

·     tendency to be easily distracted, lack concentration

·     language problems

·     emotional immaturity

·     motion sickness

·     reading problems

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Some of today’s digitally savvy children are missing out on many opportunities for physical movement through play, which previous generations experienced daily.

We love that play forms part of our everyday curriculum and that our team of educators are consistently encouraging play, whether it be indoors or outdoors.  From building masterpieces in the sandpit to dress up play in their indoor environments, we love that play allows children to develop imagination, express ideas and tell stories.  Whilst running, climbing, and outdoor nature play build core strength, balance, and spatial awareness.

The Commissioner, on behalf of Play Matters Collective, is distributing a statewide survey to capture how children and young people experience play in their daily lives. Schools are being encouraged to share the survey to help ensure a broad and representative range of voices across Western Australia are heard.  We encourage families and educators to complete the survey here.