One of the characteristics of play is its resilience. Play is important to children whatever their circumstances. It is especially important during crises when being able to play can offer children some security and normality. This message offered a spark of hope last Thursday morning, during an ICDI’s Webinar The Power of Play and its Impact on Early Childhood Learning and Development.
More than 200 Kindergarten teachers and directors from all parts of Ukraine had signed up for the Webinar, which was hosted by ICDI’s partner in Ukraine, Labour and Health Social Initiatives – LHSI. However, the previous night had been punctuated by continuous air raid alerts that continued throughout the webinar itself. In the end just under 40 teachers and NGO staff made it as everyone was urged to go to bomb shelters. Suddenly, the notion of emotionally and physically safe places, a necessity for all young children to thrive, became a priority.
The interactive Webinar covered children’s right to play, the benefits of different types of play for young children’s learning and development and adults’ responsibility to protect, provide for and nurture play. With a heavy heart the ICDI facilitators concluded the Webinar offering solidarity to the participants for their resilience and determination to protect young children and provide safe spaces where children can be children.
This Webinar is part of the project, ‘A Play Hub for internally displaced children in Ukraine’, which began in March 2023. You can find out more about the Play Hub here.
