The Toy Association™ Shares Play Ideas & Activities for International Day of Play

May 22, 2024 | Ahead of the inaugural International Day of Play on June 11, The Toy Association™ is sharing resources biweekly from its Genius of Play initiative for play professionals to share with their networks. These resources are free to use and help to promote the importance of play in child development and offer guidance on fostering play-based learning experiences.

This week, The Toy Association invites the global play community to take advantage of The Genius of Play’s collection of play ideas and downloadable coloring and activity sheets:

• Play Ideas: Each play idea includes a list of necessary materials (mostly household items), step-by-step instructions, and the associated benefits of play. Individuals can also filter the play ideas based on age and developmental benefit. These activities are designed to be simple yet engaging, promoting creativity and learning in a fun environment.


• Coloring & Activity Sheets: From connecting the dots coloring pages and scavenger hunts to word searches and color by number sheets, these activities provide hours of educational fun for children. They also help kids develop fine motor skills, improve problem-solving abilities, and ignite imaginations.


• In the Classroom: These printable resources for teachers offer a variety of engaging activities that can be easily integrated into lesson plans. They help reinforce key concepts while keeping students actively involved in the learning process.
 

Previously shared resources for the play community include a collection of four playbooks filled with play activities for kids of all ages and interests and social media-ready assets that promote the six benefits of play.

International Day of Play creates a unifying moment at global, national, and local levels to elevate the importance of play as central to children’s learning and well-being — ensuring time to play, space to play, and support for quality play is prioritized. The international awareness day calls for policies, training, and funding to integrate play into education and community settings worldwide. Click here for more informational about the International Day of Play.

The Toy Association’s Genius of Play initiative is a leading resource on the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of play that serve children throughout their lives. Targeted to parents, teachers, and consumers, The Genius of Play’s website offers expert advice from play and child experts, play ideas, and resources for teachers. Follow The Genius of Play on Facebook and Instagram.