What is global school play day? When is it celebrated? History, how to observe, activities and how to celebrate global play school play day?
Global School Play Day is an annual event that encourages children around the world to put down their technology and engage in unstructured play. The event typically takes place in the spring, and is organized by the non-profit organization Playful Learning Landscapes. The goal of Global School Play Day is to raise awareness about the importance of play in a child’s development, and to encourage schools and families to prioritize play in their daily lives. Participation in Global School Play Day is open to schools and organizations around the world, and typically includes activities such as playground games, free play, and other playful activities.
History of Global School Play Day
The history of Global School Play Day goes back to the year 2012, when it was started by a non-profit organization named Playful Learning Landscapes. The first Global School Play Day event was held on the last Wednesday of April, and it has been held on the same day every year since. The event is designed to promote the importance of play in a child’s development and to encourage schools and families to prioritize play in their daily lives.
The first Global School Play Day event had the participation of only a few schools, but it has grown significantly over the years. As of now, it has been participated by thousands of schools across the world from different countries. The event includes activities such as playground games, free play, and other playful activities, with the aim to bring back unstructured play as an important aspect in the schools curriculum.
It’s important to note that Global School Play Day is not a mandatory event, but a voluntary one that any school can participate in. It has gained popularity over the years and continues to spread awareness about the importance of play in a child’s development.
How to Celebrate Global School Play Day
Here are a few ways that schools can celebrate Global School Play Day:
- Organize a playground day: Encourage students to spend their recess and lunch breaks playing on the playground. This can include games like tag, capture the flag, and kickball.
- Incorporate unstructured play into the curriculum: Set aside time for free play in the classroom. This can include activities like building with blocks, drawing, and playing with educational toys.
- Invite parents and community members to participate: Invite parents, grandparents, and community members to come to the school and participate in the day’s activities. This can include playing games, reading stories, or creating art.
- Plan fun field trips: Take students on a field trip to a local park or playground to give them an opportunity to engage in unstructured play.
- Host a play day fair: Organize a fair or carnival where students can participate in various activities like obstacle course, balloon games, and more.
- Create a Playful Learning Landscapes: Create a space in the school to foster play, imagination, creativity and also promote social and emotional development.
It’s important to remember that the goal of Global School Play Day is to prioritize play in a child’s daily life and to recognize its importance in their development, so any activity that promotes play and unstructured activities is a good fit for the day.
Activities of Global School Play Day
There are many different activities that schools can participate in during Global School Play Day. Here are a few examples:
- Playground games: Encourage students to spend their recess and lunch breaks playing on the playground. This can include games like tag, capture the flag, and kickball.
- Free play: Set aside time for free play in the classroom. This can include activities like building with blocks, drawing, and playing with educational toys.
- Outdoor activities: Take students on a nature walk, hike or a bike ride, or have a picnic or a scavenger hunt in the park or school yard.
- Playful learning stations: Set up different stations around the school or playground where students can engage in different types of play and activities, such as building with blocks, playing with play dough, or creating art.
- Sports and fitness activities: Organize games and activities that promote physical activity, such as soccer, volleyball, or a fitness challenge.
- Playful storytelling: read aloud stories, or have students act out stories in a dramatic play area.
- Playful learning with technology: Encourage students to use technology in a playful way, such as programming robots or creating digital animations.
- Playful learning with Music: Encourage students to learn and create music, or have a school-wide sing-a-long.
These are just a few examples of activities that schools can participate in during Global School Play Day, the most important thing is to let children explore, create and have fun during the day.
