Bhutan celebrated International Day of Play, emphasizing play’s importance for children’s development and well-being. The event, organized by UNICEF, involved 15 primary schools and parents, promoting the right to play. Unstructured play is crucial for life lessons like teamwork and resilience, but many children in Bhutan lack access to basic toys and resources, according to UNICEF. The data serves as a wake-up call for parents like Dolkar Lhamo. Tshering Choki, another parent, stated that she frequently takes her autistic child to these events in order to promote socialization with other kids. Gaupel Lower Secondary School student Tsheyang Yeebum expressed her excitement about the event and her want to participate in more events of this nature in the future.
UNICEF is encouraging parents and caregivers to actively plan play-based activities that foster strong attachments and encourage well-rounded development in light of the growing worries about excessive screen usage and a lack of meaningful interaction. While kids play games on campus, they also do a lot of other things, according to Chimi Wangmo, a nun from the Karma Leysheyling Foundation. UNICEF’s long-term commitment to guaranteeing that every child in Bhutan may enjoy their right to play was reiterated by Rushnan Murtaza.