UN adopts International Day of Play following LEGO campaign

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted an International Day of Play following a campaign by the LEGO Group, LEGO Foundation and charitable organisations around the world.

The inaugural International Day of Play will take place on June 11, 2024, and aims to ‘put play back on the agenda’ for children across the globe. According to research conducted by the LEGO Group and YouGov, only 30% of adults are aware that the UN recognises play as a fundamental birth right – and UNICEF estimates that as many as 160 million children are currently working instead of playing or learning.

Charitable organisations including Save the Children, The Mattel Children’s Foundation and Change X joined forces with the LEGO Group, Hasbro and NIKE Inc. to support a ‘global play movement’, based on studies that show three in five children want to play more, while four in five want to play more with their parents or carer.

“We believe that all children should benefit from the power of play,” said LEGO Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen. “For more than 90 years we have championed children’s right to play, as we know that it can change lives. It strengthens family bonds and helps children develop essential skills and reach their full potential.

“We have hosted our own World Play Day the past two years to celebrate the importance of play. Now, we are excited to turn it into a global movement to engage and impact even more children together with our partners. The adoption of an International Day of Play by the UN is a true testament to the power of play and the need to collectively champion and protect all children’s right to play.”

The organisations involved in the campaign hope that the International Day of Play will create ‘a unifying moment at global, national, and local levels to elevate the importance of play as central to children’s learning and wellbeing’.

“At the LEGO Foundation, our aspiration is for children to become creative, lifelong learners who thrive in a constantly changing world,” added LEGO Foundation CEO Sidsel Marie Kristensen. “We know that play fuels curiosity, sparks creativity, unlocks essential skills, boosts wellbeing and inspires a lifelong journey of learning.

“Play is the superpower of children, but not all children experience the benefits of learning through play. The challenge for all of us is to make play a part of every child’s reality. An International Day of Play is an important recognition of a child’s right to play. Let’s work together to ensure every child has the space and time to play and be the superheroes they are.”

The International Day of Play will take place on June 11, 2024, and every year thereafter.

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