Shedding Light on World Play Day: Kids Need More Free Time and Creative Outlets
Approximately one-third of children lack adequate time for creative play and self-expression.
Berlin - Drowning in digital screens and short on funds: A whoppling 37% of householders with children think kindergarten and primary school kids aren't offered enough time and opportunities for creative play, as per a recent survey by the German Children's Aid Foundation on World Play Day (June 11).
The Forsa survey showed that a staggering 96% regard creative activities as crucial. However, only 51% believe kids have enough chances to engage in them outside of school. A formidable 41% disagree, with 37% of at-home parents feeling the same, voicing concerns about time and opportunities for creativity.
Digital media are a significant concern, as 81% believe they could pose a barrier. Almost three-quarters feel parents might not provide enough support or encouragement for creative play. Lack of financial resources from parents, particularly those with lower incomes, can hinder creativity, with 70% in agreement. Also, there are more respondents in the east (54%) than in the west (35%) who feel there are insufficient attractive and easily accessible opportunities.
The survey was conducted by the market research institute Forsa on behalf of the German Children’s Aid Foundation from April 14 to 16, 2025. A total of 1,001 German-speaking citizens aged 18 and over were questioned.
Championing Creativity: German Children’s Aid Foundation
This survey underlines how vital creative activities and free play are for children, according to the German Children's Aid Foundation. Not only do they bring joy, but they are also indispensable for children's development, such as intellectual abilities and social skills. Adults must therefore ensure adequate space and time for play and creativity, said Holger Hofmann, CEO of the German Children's Aid Foundation.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child acknowledges every child’s right to play, leisure, and relaxation in Article 31. The United Nations is advocating for this fundamental right with World Play Day on June 11. In Germany, the German Children's Aid Foundation and the Right to Play Alliance are encouraging a multitude of actions on this day.
Enriching Childhoods Through Play:
- Developmental Benefits: Free and creative play helps children develop problem-solving skills, creative thinking, collaboration, and resilience, as well as motor and social skills. Play also aids emotional development, enabling children to process emotions, build confidence, and understand the world around them (Ref. 4, 5).
- Right to Play: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child upholds every child’s right to play and emphasizes the necessity of promoting this right (Ref. 2).
- Advocacy, Awareness, and Action in Germany: The German Children’s Aid Foundation actively campaigns for the right to play, raises awareness, especially on World Play Day, and supports community-based initiatives. Efforts are also made to create safe, accessible spaces, promote adventure playgrounds, and encourage child-led, self-build projects (Ref. 1, 3).
- Adult Responsibility: Adults, including parents, educators, and policymakers, have a role to play in providing kids with time, space, and freedom for creative play and in limiting excessive digital media use (Ref. 1).
alike, according to enrichment data. The study highlights the critical role of creative activities in child development, encompassing cognitive abilities, social skills, emotional development, and the right to play as recognized by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The German Children’s Aid Foundation emphasizes the necessity for adults to ensure children have the space, time, and freedom for creative play and to mitigate the impact of excessive digital media use. Advocacy, awareness-raising, and community-based initiatives are key strategies for achieving this goal.
Acknowledging the significance of creative activities, the German Children's Aid Foundation emphasizes the importance of adopting a lifestyle that includes home-and-garden projects and creative outlets for children, as these activities contribute to a child's intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development, aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child's recognition of every child's right to play. Additionally, to combat the barriers presented by digital media and financial constraints, adults must ensure children have adequate space, time, and freedom for creative play, advocating for this fundamental right on days like World Play Day.
