#PlayShapes Campaign 2016

As the Little Prince said: “all grown-ups were children first”. Every day, adults use the skills and experiences they develop during play in childhood. Including when they are European Leaders.

Today, in the run up to Universal Children’s Day 2016 (20 November), Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) is launching the #PlayShapes campaign to raise awareness of the importance of play in childhood for every child.

All children have the right to play. This right is recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In addition, Play has been proven to have countless benefits for children’s development, health and well-being. This ranges from fostering empathy, enhancing concentration, building emotional intelligence to creating a sense of curiosity, developing social skills and boosting physical activity. Unfortunately, the importance of play is often overlooked and it is considered a luxury. Children are often not given the time, space or permission to enjoy play.

Through our #PlayShapes campaign, we want to remind people that every child has the right to play and that play is essential in children’s development, health and well-being.