Children have a right to play and play is important for the development of a child. But for many children worldwide, playing is not a matter of course. With their donation, they support projects with which we give girls and boys the opportunity to play in a safe environment, to exercise sports and thus to lay the foundation for their development.
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Right to play for children - data and facts
Playing can help to master the life situation
Children have a right to play. So it says in the UN Convention on the Rights of Children . playing is not a matter of course for all children . The experience of playing for the child's development is of great importance: playing children who grow up in poverty can help to master their life situation better. Through playing together, children learn that there are rules that prevent all benefits and conflicts, or that a team is successful if it brings out the strengths of all of his teammates.
193 countries approved the UN Convention on the Rights of Children. There it says in Article 31 that
- The right to play is a human right that has every child
- Pay attention and promote the governments of this right
- Anyone who prevents children from playing, violating a human right!
Children who can play and participate in sports also have an easier time in school, as their learning ability demonstrably improves. Play as a therapeutic method can even help overcome traumatic experiences. Every child has talent and creativity. Through its projects, Terre des Hommes promotes sports and play activities as a tool for empowering children.
There are no global studies that examine the game situation of children in the world. However, numerous facts are known that show that games are not a matter of course for children - not even in industrialized countries.
- In many developing countries, only a minority of children under six years of age has access to early funding programs and kindergartens, in which they are supported with suitable games in their development and adequately prepared for a later school attendance (South Africa around every fifth child, less than ten percent in Mozambique).
- Millions of boys and girls who are victims of exploitative child labor are deprived of the right to be able to play and thus be a child.
- Cell phones, tablets, I-phones and other technical "toys" have an impact on the development of children. You can lead to children not developing physically and emotionally and affecting their social skills. This can result in: motor deficits, early short -sightedness, obesity, learning difficulties, problems in relationship behavior.
- Unkinding about the importance of play for the development of the child ensures that games and sport are considered subordinate or even as "unnecessary" luxury.
- Increasing requirements and pressure to perform at school reduce free playing time. Missing safe scope prevent children from playing carefree outdoors and discovering their surroundings.
Demands and goals
Terre des Hommes as an advocate for the right to play, is committed to ensuring that
- Play is not considered subordinate to other rights, because it is indispensable for the well -being of children.
- Governments perceive their responsibility for the implementation of Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children. (For concretization, see also the document General Comment on the convention and the right to play ( PDF document )
- the creation of play options is integrated into budget planning and state services (development of infrastructure, measures in the educational and health sector, etc.)
- Parents, teachers and other caregivers are informed about how important game is for the development of the child and that play opportunities do not depend on financial resources
Terre des Hommes promotes the right to play
Project partners all over the world organize game offers and game campaigns for children - in safe places, with good play material and committed supervisors.
Only governments, states, and the international community can enforce and guarantee the right to play for all children. Therefore, Terre des Hommes , together with partner organizations, is committed to acting as ambassadors for the right to play – nationally and internationally.
In many projects, games are one of the educational and therapy offers: in refugee camps, for street children and in the emergency and disaster relief. Playing helps children in difficult situations.
Parents and teachers are trained by Terre des Hommes partner organizations: They learn how important play and sports are for children's healthy development. They also learn how to create suitable play spaces and opportunities even with limited resources.
Your contact person
Claudia Berker
Speaker Africa program