The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Play (IDOP) is annually observed on June 11 worldwide to celebrate the power of play. It highlights the importance of preserving, promoting, and prioritizing play as a vital component of human development and overall well-being, with a special focus on children.
- June 11, 2025, marks the 2nd observance of theIDOP.
- The theme for IDOP 2025 is “Choose Play – Every Day”, reminds governments, businesses, schools, and families to make decisions that embrace and prioritize play for children.
Background:
i.On 25 March 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/78/268, proclaiming 11 June as the annual International Day of Play(IDOP).
ii.The resolution was co-proposed by Vietnam, El Salvador, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Kenya, and Luxembourg, with support from organizations including the Denmark-based LEGO Group, the LEGO Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
iii.The first observance of IDOP took place on 11 June 2024.
Why Play Matters:
i.Fundamental Right: Play is recognized under Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989. It is considered essential for children’s development and mental health.
ii.Skill Development: Play builds resilience, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. It also helps children process trauma.
iii.SDG Support: IDOP supports the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting inclusion (SDG 10), quality education (SDG 4), child well-being (SDG 3), and gender equality (SDG 5).
iv.Global Equity: Play bridges socio-economic gaps, yet 57% of the poorest children (aged 3–4) lack play engagement with caregivers, compared to 29% in wealthier households.
v.Barriers Addressed: The day highlights obstacles like poverty, gender discrimination, unsafe environments, and child labor, which force 160 million children to work instead of playing or learning.
Critical Global Statistics:
i.71% of children value play for happiness, while 58% say it helps them make friends.
ii.Only 1 in 4 children play outdoors regularly, a decline from three-quarters in their grandparents’ era.
iii.41% of children have been told to stop playing outdoors by adults.
2025 Events:
i.On June 11, 2025, a high-level event was held at the UN Headquarters in New York,United States of America (USA). The event was co-hosted by UNICEF and UNESCO to promote the importance of play in child development.
ii.As part of the LEGO Group’s “World Play Day” initiative observed on 11 June 2025, global events transformed urban spaces into interactive play zones, encouraging children to contribute creative ideas for playful cities through the official platform LEGO.com/WorldPlayDay.
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director (ED) – Catherine M Russell
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1946
