16 Jun 2025

No child in Botswana should be denied the time, space, or opportunity to play as it is a fundamental right that supports healthy development and well-being.

The appeal was made by acting UNICEF Deputy Representative to Botswana, Ms Leseka Mukokomani at commemoration of the International Day of Play in Letlhakeng on Friday.

Ms Mukokomani stated that the right to play was articulated in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognised play as  fundamental to a child’s development. 

“Today we amplify that right, we advocate for its full integration into national policies, teacher training, urban planning, and all environments where children live, grow, and learn,” she added.

She hailed the this year’s theme: Choose Play Every Day, saying  it was a reminder that play was not a luxury or an afterthought but a daily necessity that nurtured children’s mind and body and the foundation on which resilience, creativity, social connection, and lifelong learning were built.  

Ms Mukokomani emphasised that play-based learning in schools enhanced engagement, boosts motivation, and strengthened retention while ion communities, it fostered inclusion, empathy, and social cohesion. 

At home, she said play built vital bonds between children and caregivers, reinforcing the fundamental truth that every parent was a child’s first teacher and first playmate.

However, she noted, not all children enjoyed this right equally as many faced significant barriers, from limited time due to household responsibilities to lack of safe, inclusive play spaces, and increasing academic pressure, sometimes imposed by adults.

 These challenges,  she said were real, and children with disabilities or those from marginalised social and economic backgrounds were at risk of being excluded.

Even where play spaces exist, Ms  Mukokomani pointed out, they often lacked accessibility and inclusivity.

“As UNICEF, we are grateful to be joining Letlhakeng District Council and the broader coalition of stakeholders as you commemorate the International Day of Play. Your collective presence underscores our shared responsibility to safeguard and nurture every child’s right to play,” she stated.

She reiterated that play was essential for child development, pointing out that it helped children form relationships, develop problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and resilience. 

She urged all to promote play-based learning approaches in early childhood and primary education.

Letlhakeng District Council chief social and community development officer, Mr Allen Mbakile, echoed the sentiments, stating that play was not only essential to childhood development but was a lifelong activity that supported well-being across the life span.

He emphasised that every child had the right to play, a right clearly outlined in the Children’s Act, which guaranteed every child the right to leisure and recreation. 

He further stressed that children also had the right to free association, and urged parents not to dictate whom their children should or should not play with. 

However, he noted, parents still carried the critical responsibility of safeguarding their children’s safety and well-being.

Acting Council Secretary for Primary Health Care, Dr Chawangwa Letsholathebe, highlighted the role of play in learning and physical development.

Dr Letsholathebe said play was an essential component of a child’s growth and development as it helped children build healthy peer relationships and supportted their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

She called for increased efforts to campaign for children’s right to play, stressing that all children must be able to enjoy this right. She advocated for policy frameworks that prioritized play, integrating it into both formal and informal education systems.

“Play should be a daily habit. Caregivers and educators must ensure children have regular opportunities to engage in meaningful play,” she said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Early Childhood Department at Botswana Open University, Dr  Shikha Trivedi, , officially launched the ‘Donate a Toy, Help Spread Joy’ campaign.

Dr Trivedi explained that every child had a right to play, but not every child had the privilege of owning a toy. 

She said for many children, a toy held meaning and she encouraged all stakeholders to contribute and spread awareness about the initiative. She pledged that Botswana Open University would actively support and participate in the campaign. ENDS