18
Jun
2026
Watch
International Day of Play: promoting children’s right to play (debate)
Mr President! Bad enough that in 2026 we even need to remember that children should play. The fact that we have to specifically emphasise this right shows how far we have moved away from a truly child-friendly society – sad but true – also in Europe. Playing is not a pastime. Play is a child's right and the foundation of a healthy childhood. Where children play, friendships grow, where creativity, courage, empathy and self-confidence arise. While playing, children learn to share, argue, reconcile and find solutions together. Play promotes learning, strengthens social skills and is a key to our children's mental health. No screen or algorithm can replace it. That's why we need, among other things, more playgrounds, more natural open spaces and more places where children can simply be children. And the European Union must act; The European Child Guarantee is a good start. In addition, Finland already shows that consistent promotion of gaming works, including in education policy; Other countries should take this as an example. At the same time, we must also be honest: While children are playing less and less, social media platforms are making billions of dollars from keeping them on screen for as long as possible. Every minute of attention brings profit. However, every hour in front of the screen is often one hour less to play, discover and experience – not to mention the mental consequences. Something else is lost: boredom. It is the breeding ground for imagination, creativity and self-initiative. Those who have never experienced boredom also learn less often to think up something for themselves, to create something new and to find their own solutions. We, as a Parliament, should also give greater political importance to the right to play. As for social media platforms: These must be more regulated and subject to an age limit for use. Everything else is foreign to the world, as is the decision of the German Ethics Council. Whoever takes children to play takes them a piece of childhood. Let's give them time, space and the freedom to just be children!