‘It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual…is able to be creative and to
use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers
the self.’ Donald Winnicott

The importance of play is increasingly being recognised as the research evidence
mounts of its relationship with social and emotional wellbeing and intellectual
development. This year, on 11 June 2024, the UN observed the first-ever
International Day of Play, marking a significant milestone in efforts to promote playing as
a fundamental right of children to help them thrive and reach their full potential. In
2018, the world’s first Professor of Play, Paul Ramchandani, was appointed at the
University of Cambridge. As the Lego-sponsored Professor of Play and Director of
PEDAL (Play in Education, Development and Learning), he argues that making time
for play in schools is more important than ever for children’s capacity to learn and for
their psycho-social growth. He highlights the UN’s Rights of the Child definition of
play to include ‘fun, uncertainty, challenge, flexibility and non-productivity’; these
elements of play facilitate learning and social development precisely through inviting
exploration, communication, problem-solving, and honouring the present moment.

Across our ELC Family of International Schools from 18 months to 11 years, and
especially for our younger children, play and learning go hand in hand. Inspired by
the Reggio Emilia approach, play is one of many languages that children can use to
express themselves, build their cognitive and social skills. Play makes learning more
accessible, memorable, and enjoyable and validates children’s experiences,
enabling them to grow into themselves, confident in their own voice.

For further information on the power of play, and the latest research, we invite you to
browse the PEDAL library resource for parents, schools, and policy makers:
https://www.pedalhub.net/resource-library/