International Day of Play
Join the Mayor's Office of Early Childhood in celebrating the International Day of Play on June 11th as designated by the United Nations to highlight and experience the power of play!
Play is a fundamental right; it builds resilience, instills confidence and helps children develop. But children need time to play. That’s where we need policies, training and funding to get play integrated into education and community settings. International awareness days can create systemic change, to enable all children access to the time, space and support they need to play.
Celebrate on City Hall Plaza!
Celebrations
Organizations and partners celebrating with us at City Hall Plaza
International Day of Play celebrations beyond City Hall Plaza include:
- 68 Boston Public Schools are celebrating International Day of Play on June 11 by extending recess, hosting dance parties, making arts and crafts projects, and more!
- All eight YMCA of Greater Boston Early Education centers are hosting family “Stay and Play Days”, for families to read or participate in other activities at the center. This event is only open to YMCA families.
- Active Kids + Minds is hosting obstacle courses at Josiah Quincy Elementary, Beethoven Elementary, and Joyce Kilmer K-8 schools. They aim to promote health, wellness, and fun for students. See here how they activated play last year! These events are only open to students enrolled in these schools.
- The Boston Children’s Hospital Early Intervention Program will be celebrating International Day of Play at Martha Eliot Health Center in Jamaica Plain. Play stations will include: a sensory activity, art activity and a simple craft geared towards toddlers and preschoolers.
Learn more about Play
Benefits of Sports
Read here about the lifelong benefits of playing sports.
The National Institute for Play
Learn about advancing society’s understanding and application of play.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Learn about how play connects to learning
Making learning playful
No matter how long you’ve been making learning playful, there is always more to discover.
How can I host an International Day of Play event?
- Game Library
- Field Day
- Obstacle Course
- Sports clinic
- Extra Recess
- Plan to visit a nearby playground/ Park
- Plan a group walk/run
- Soccer
- Baseball
- Biking
- Ping pong
- Scavenger Hunt
- Spike ball
- Volleyball
- Cornhole
- Tumbling
- Giant board games
- Fishing pond
- Ring toss
- Dunk tank
- Lawn bowling
-
Hopscotch
- Finger painting
- Finger puppets
- Crafting with recycled materials
- Mural
- Making bracelets
- Sensory bags
- Snow globe
- Dance Party
- Karaoke
- Make a musical instrument, such as drums (pg 70)
- STEAM games
- Math games
- Science Fair
- Building blocks
- Board games
- Play doh activity
- Interactive story time
- Building blocks
- Ping pong
- Hula hooping
- Face painting
- Finger painting
- Finger puppets
- Crafting with recycled materials
- Mural
- Making bracelets
- Sensory bags
- Snow globe
