From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the parents and guardians to give more attention and time for children to play for their happiness, joy and healthier up-bringing.
The called was made by UNICEF education specialist, Kano field Office, Mr Muhammad Muttaqa Muktar while delivering his speech to mark International Day of Play (IDOP) celebration, organized by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Jigawa State government and funded by European Union (EU) held at Kiyawa Special primary school in Kiyawa local government area of Jigawa State.
He explained that, Play is part of the children’s rights as it help them to be more focused on their education, healthier and help them to grow very smart and brilliant.
The UNICEF education specialist said, the United Nations choose to June 11, of every year to celebrate Play and this Year’s theme tagged as ‘Protect Play, Protect Childhood’ to encourage Parents Child play and Strengthen learning bonding and development through play.
While delivering his speech at the ceremony, the UNICEF ECCDE National Facilitator Dr Sunday Jacob said, Children learn to talk through songs, learn to share through games and they learn to solve problems by building, pretending, and falling, then trying again. “That is play. And that is childhood”.
According to him, “when we remove play, we don’t just take away fun. We take away confidence, creativity, and joy. A child without play is a child denied their full right to grow”.
He then charged the general public to ‘Protect Play, Protect Childhood’ more especially Parents, give time for play, not just homework, Teachers, let recess be sacred, not extra, Leaders, build safe parks and spaces where children can be play.
“Because when we protect play, we protect the future”, he said.
