#EatPlayLove for the best start in life
2017-01-12
© UNICEF
For young children, play is so much more than just fun and games – it’s also a way to learn new skills and stimulate their developing ains.
The first 1,000 days of life shape a child’s future. Alongside adequate nutrition and nurturing care, play has a vital role in giving children the best possible start in life.
When young children play, they exercise their viant imaginations and boost their creativity. Through play, they can transform themselves into superheroes and turn everyday objects, like bowls and spoons, into something else entirely.
Even in the simplest of children’s games, there’s much more going on than meets the eye. When children play, they’re learning skills that will equip them for all of life’s challenges, like how to solve problems or why it’s important to share, and other social skills that will help them navigate our complex world.
And while they’re having fun, their developing ains – twice as active as adult ains – are hard at work, forging new connections.
When you play with a child, you’re not just sharing in their fun – you’re helping their ains develop. Play is an expression of love and a means of learning. The skills and confidence children gain last a lifetime.
Read more about why #EarlyMomentsMatter.