Choose play—every day: Because every child deserves joy
Did you know that play is a human right?
Yes—just like the right to education or to feel safe, every child has the right to play. But for far too many children, especially those living through illness, conflict, or disaster, play is the first thing to disappear.
Today, on the International Day of Play, we’re celebrating what makes childhood so magical—play, laughter, creativity—and reminding the world why these things matter more than ever. The theme this year is ‘Choose Play—Every Day!’ And we couldn’t agree more.
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When we think of play, we often imagine toys, games, or recess at school. But it’s so much more than that. Play is how children make sense of the world, how they explore, express themselves, and connect with others.
The right to play is even written into international law. Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says that every child should have the chance to rest, relax and play. But rights only mean something when they’re protected in practice.
In places where life is tough—where hospitals replace classrooms, or disasters drown out bedtime stories—this right is easily overlooked. That’s when play becomes even more powerful.
What happens when play is taken away?
Imagine being a child in a hospital, surrounded by adults in masks and uniforms. Or a child who has had to leave home because of war or disaster. In these moments, children aren’t thinking about playing. They’re surviving.
But that’s exactly when play matters most. A simple game, a silly joke, a shared giggle—these moments bring back a sense of normal life. They remind children of who they are beneath the worry and the waiting: kids who need to laugh, move, and dream.
This is where RED NOSES comes in
At RED NOSES, we believe in the healing power of laughter. Our professional clown artists work in hospitals, displacement centres, and crisis zones, bringing joy to children who are facing the unimaginable.
We don’t offer solutions to every problem. But we do bring a moment of lightness. We give children a chance to play—sometimes for the first time in weeks or months.
Because when a child smiles again, something shifts. They’re not just coping anymore. They’re living.
Choose play—every single day
This International Day of Play, we’re asking everyone—parents, teachers, carers, decision-makers, neighbours—to make space for play. Not just on special days like this one, but every day.
- Encourage children to be silly, to explore, to tell stories
- Support spaces where children can play safely—even in hospitals or shelters
- Back organisations (like us!) who put play, laughter and joy at the heart of what we do
Because children shouldn’t have to earn their right to play. It’s not a reward—it’s part of what it means to be a child.
