Play; The key to preparing kids for the future | Philomena Nwajagu | TEDxEnugu

Child Development & Education - The Lego Foundation reports that over 60% of children globally have less than one hour of unstructured play daily [1] - The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability will be the top three skills needed in the workforce [1] - Play strengthens the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving [8] - Research from Harvard Center on the Developing Child shows that play builds a stronger executive function, focus, self-control, and emotional regulation [9] The Importance of Play - Play is not a distraction from learning but the foundation of it [1] - Play cultivates creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in children [1][3][4][5][6] - Through play, children rehearse life skills, express themselves, experiment, and learn resilience [6][7][13] - Play is a right, not a reward, and the beginning of learning [13][14] Call to Action - Prioritize unstructured time for children to move, feel, imagine, and express themselves freely [14] - Advocate for play at home, in schools, and in policy rooms [14]