Play, a verb that in the Portuguese context is almost exclusively associated with childhood, should instead resonate across all ages as a fundamental right. On June 11th,

we mark International Play Day — a date that invites us to reflect on the importance of free, autonomous, and creative play, not only as a natural expression of childhood but as an essential pillar of human development and the building of fairer and healthier societies.

Inspired by initiatives like Brazil’s Alliance for Childhood, which recently celebrated Play Week, we reinforce the urgency of ensuring quality time and space for children to play without constraints. Play is not a luxury, but a right enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), whose Article 31 acknowledges every child’s right “to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural and artistic life,” under conditions of equality. Yet this right is often overlooked: in addition to the increasing inequalities (vital, existential, and material) that affect many children and families, outdoor spaces are shrinking, children are overwhelmed with structured activities, and free play is being replaced by passive entertainment.

May this day signal our commitment to safe and accessible public spaces for spontaneous play, with unstructured daily time where children can explore, create, and decide how to engage with the world around them. May it bring us closer to recognising play as a universal language — one that fosters environmental awareness, inclusion, cooperation, and emotional well-being. May it celebrate the right to life by valuing intergenerational play, because play is not just for children — it belongs to joyful people of all ages.

The CeiED Public Science Forum embraces play as a generative theme and a catalyst for encounters, particularly at the intersection of education and culture. In the coming months, we will seek to map routes of play by identifying structures and initiatives across different local contexts in Portugal. We welcome your proposals and reflections!

On behalf of the Forum Coordination
Inês Vieira | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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