Unlocking Potential: The Transformative Power of Play in Early Childhood Education

Albert Einstein once said, “Play is the highest form of research.” Through playful exploration, children solve problems, negotiate with friends, and unleash their creativity, building essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork, and empathy. However, in today's fast-paced world, the significance of play in early childhood education is often overshadowed by structured learning. Alarmingly, according to recent UN data, 41% of children have been instructed to cease playing by either their parents or other adults.

Recognizing the vital role of play, the United Nations has marked June 11th as the first-ever International Day of Play (IDOP). This initiative underscores a global commitment to ensuring that every child has the right to play, celebrating this critical aspect of childhood. On this day, four leading educational organizations—Dost Education, Lively Minds, Quest Alliance, Rocket Learning and Bachpan Manao, Badhte Jao, an initiative of EkStep Foundation—convened to discuss the importance of play not merely as a leisure activity but as a fundamental component of healthy development for children aged 0-6 years.

At Dost Education, we align our initiatives with this global movement to promote the magic of play in early childhood education. Advocating for the integration of play into the education system is crucial. Parents and educators must recognize its importance and weave it into daily routines and curricula, thereby cultivating an environment where children not only succeed academically but also thrive socially. Rishi Mazumdar from Quest Alliance encapsulates this sentiment, noting, "Play is not only a space for exploration and learning but also a safe haven where everything is within your control."

Sagrika Kotnala from Uttarakhand exemplifies the transformative power of play. With two children, a 10-year-old daughter and a 3.5-year-old son, Sagrika joined Dost Education’s Program Parvarish and learned effective upbringing strategies. Previously, her son watched a lot of TV and mobile screens. Learning from Parvarish’s phone calls, Sagrika now engages him in activities while doing household chores.

"I play with him when I am kneading dough, asking him to make shapes or figures. He makes rounds or squares and gives them to me. He has started understanding shapes and how to do it," Sagrika shared. "The Dost program has helped me understand how to actively play with my children through simple activities. As a result, I've kept him away from screens and ensured proper upbringing."

Sneha Sheth, CEO of Dost Education, encapsulates this idea beautifully: "Learning through play is about a child’s thriving, not just surviving. It’s a dynamic approach that builds creativity, critical thinking, and joy, turning everyday experiences into opportunities for growth and discovery."

This principle shines through in the simple act of play when Samarth’s father paints his son's nails at his request, subtly challenging gender norms and allowing the child to explore and express themselves freely. For the 3-year-old Samarth, using nail paint was a way to assert his agency by playfully imitating his mother, and his father recognized that. "He sometimes tries to imitate his mother by applying her lipstick and nail paints, so we also sit with him together to help him," his father said, smiling. This freedom to express themselves in such a manner allows children to learn self-regulation and provides them with a sense of safety in their own home, contributing to healthy gender development.

These stories illustrate how small acts can have a profound impact on child development. Rachel Akrofie from Lively Minds sums it up perfectly: "We need to place parents at the centre of our play agenda. As the unsung heroes in childcare, they spend the most time with their children, empowering and unlocking their greatest potential."

To further strengthen the development and increase the practice of play, the whole ecosystem around the child should create a positive space for play and encourage everyone to be part of it."Playing is like breathing for children—therefore, every child in India needs it, and every caring adult in India must celebrate play. Play is natural for children, and it has science behind it. Our education policy underscores this. Play needs to be actioned and embraced by caring adults to celebrate childhood and keep growing.- added Deepika Moglishetty, Chief of Policy and Partnerships, EkStep Foundation.

Ek Step launched the "Bachpan Manao, Badhte Jao"  initiative which initiative celebrates abundance, growth, and play in a child’s first 3000 days.“Bachpan Manao focuses on encouraging parents and teachers to recognise the abundance of learning opportunities in every child's first 3000 days through play. Play is the ultimate cheat code that makes it possible by triggering a million neural connections per second to be formed in their first 3000 days. Parents and teachers can participate in unlocking this abundance by creating time, space and environment”, says Deepika. Seeded by Ekstep Foundation, Bachpan Manao is a growing community with over 100 “Collab-actors”.

Namya Mahajan, Co-founder of Rocket Learning said, "We need to make play synonymous with learning, igniting it in every classroom and every home. And ensure every child in India enjoys an inclusive, playful learning environment for the first eight years, by expanding both time and space for growth."

As we celebrated the first International Day of Play this year, we all committed to incorporating more play into our children's lives. By advocating and implementing play-based learning strategies, we can contribute to the holistic development of children, preparing them for a brighter future. Let's celebrate the magic of play and commit to making it an integral part of every child's life.

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