Global School Play Day

Play, while giving vent to a childs imagination, also builds on his/ her dexterity as well as physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important for healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age, engage and interact with the world around them.

Keeping this in mind, School observed 1st February, 2017 as Global School Play Day. It aimed at restoring unstructured play to the present day generation of children who have forgotten to play outdoors with friends! A pre-occupation with computers, video games and smart phones has robbed them of the sheer joy of playing footloose.

There could not have been a better day chosen to celebrate Global School Play Day as it happened to coincide with Basant Panchami, the occasion when Goddess Saraswati is specially venerated. Infact in Bengal, tradition has students place away their books on this day!

Students across School were seen taking part in the activity all day. They were oriented in the benefits of unstructured play by their teachers in diverse ways.

Pre-primary and Pre-school organised both, indoor and outdoor activities for the children and for once it was not teacher-led. The children were free to play the way as they wanted. In fact they were asked to carry a favourite toy each, from home, be it a favourite bear, a Barbie doll, a helicopter or car. They shared and played these with their friends. Their candid moments were beautifully captured by their teachers who stood by and observed.

Class I enjoyed playing on the swings. Various PEC activities were organised by the physical education teachers for classes II and III, on the back field. These included handling the ball with hockey sticks and bats and target-hitting using frisbees.

Classes IV and V attended a workshop on the Importance of Play followed by an hour of indoor games which included board games, soft toy play and the hoola-hoop.

Classes VI-X indulged in games like basketball, volley ball, cricket and badminton.

All the students reflected upon the necessity of daily unstructured play, to get away from simply staring at a screen. They went home wearing great grins of contentment! In fact they pledged to spend time playing with friends in their neighbourhoods every day. Just like they had done at School that day.

Ms. Vandana Tewari.