On this International Day of Play, we asked a simple question to children from different corners of the region: What is your favorite game? Their answers not only filled us with tenderness, but also offered a fresh perspective on what it means to play.
“I like to jump in muddy puddles because I’m Peppa Pig!” “My favorite game is the slide.” “I like playing tag and also hide and seek.” What might seem like mere mischief or a pastime to adults is much more to children: play is how kids explore the world, exercise their imagination, and develop skills they will use for life.
¿Por qué jugar importa? Los niños nos lo cuentan
Learning Through Play: What the Evidence Tells Us
Play is not a luxury or a pastime—it is a necessity and one of the most powerful tools for comprehensive childhood development. Through play, children develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. It also allows them to express themselves, solve conflicts, build empathy and imagination, and practice decision-making in safe and stimulating environments.
What is known as “play-based learning” doesn’t only happen in classrooms or with specially designed educational toys. In fact, it often emerges spontaneously—when children turn a box into a castle or use sticks as magic wands. You don’t need to spend a lot to play: with materials from their surroundings—and above all, with imagination—children can create meaningful play moments. There are even simple strategies to build homemade toys that foster creativity and help strengthen bonds with adults.
In addition to promoting learning, play holds significant value for emotional well-being. In times of stress or uncertainty, it can offer children a way to process emotions, feel safe, and regain a sense of control. As various experiences from Latin America and the Caribbean show, incorporating play into caregiving routines can greatly impact children’s well-being and even their mental health.
More Active Play, Fewer Screens
For play to fulfill its purpose, it needs something fundamental: time and space. That is why it is crucial for families, caregivers, and policymakers to recognize its value and prioritize it in daily life and caregiving environments. This does not mean packing schedules with structured activities—it means ensuring children have moments to invent, get bored, and start again. And also, to play with them!
This becomes even more important as screens take up more time in children’s lives. While technology can play a positive role when used intentionally, international recommendations are clear: in early childhood, screen time should be very limited and always supervised by an adult.
Recently, the Spanish Pediatric Association updated its recommendations, advising no screen time for children under 6—except for specific social interactions, such as a video call where someone reads a story or sings a song—and no more than one hour per day for children aged 7 to 12, including schoolwork and homework. But that is not all: the guide also warns of a direct link between parental screen use and children’s behavior. Scientific evidence shows that when adults are distracted by screens—especially during meals or caregiving moments—it becomes harder to interpret children's needs, which can lead to discomfort, tantrums, or behavioral issues.
So today, on the International Day of Play, we want to share not only these heartwarming voices, but also a reminder: play is not just for children—it’s a vital need we must support.
At the IDB, we promote play as an essential part of early childhood development, integrating it into innovative programs that foster meaningful learning from the earliest years. Learn more on our Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund page.
Let’s listen to the children. And if we can, let’s join in their game!