Experts, researchers, and education specialists said on Monday that combining play with learning can reinforce the power of play to influence the holistic development of all children.
The most crucial step is to begin breaking down barriers by identifying obstacles in free play and guided play for both the indoor and outdoor context. The play environment must be ensured and protected for the holistic development of the child, which presents the most significant challenge, the speakers said at a roundtable discussion arranged to address the reinforcement of the power of play.
The event, titled "Reinforce the Power of Play," was jointly organized by Save the Children and Dhaka Tribune at the Dhaka Gallery on Monday. Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Reaz Ahmad moderated the roundtable, which was attended by experts, academics, researchers, physiologists, and government officials.
The speakers in the roundtable discussion included Bangladesh Shishu Academy Director General Anjir Liton, DPE Director Mohiuddin Ahmed Talukder, Prof Mahjabeen Haque from the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at the University of Dhaka, Sesame Workshop Bangladesh Managing Director Mohammad Shah Alam, Manager of ECCD at Shishuder Jonno Program Zannatun Nahar, and Project Director (Education Sector) at Save the Children in Bangladesh Shahin Islam.
Save the Children ran a project called the "Championing Play Project," funded by The Lego Foundation. Partner organizations included SKS Foundation and CAMPE in Gaibandha Saghata upazila and Dhaka City Corporation. The project ran from June 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023.
Manager of the Championing Play Project at Save the Children in Bangladesh Rehnuma Akhter explained that the project's goal is to improve the learning and well-being of children aged 0-6 years through the quality of play and to strengthen the movement around play among all stakeholders involved in play-related matters, including the government. She also elaborated on how Save the Children incorporates play activities globally in the programs to ensure the social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative development of children.
She added that along with parenting education, they provided a set of age-appropriate play materials called “Magic Bags” for achieving children’s holistic learning and development outcomes.
Project Director (Education Sector) of Save the Children Shahin Islam mentioned how the project is working in all the districts of Bangladesh in collaboration with Bangladesh Shishu Academy to ensure access to play materials. He added that there is a lack of safe space for the children to play both outdoors and indoors. He further said parents and adults need to visualize the benefit of play and its link to holistic development and learning to change their mindset.
Bangladesh Shishu Academy Director General Anjir Liton said: “We are losing our traditional games that represent our culture, and these indoor and outdoor games contribute to the development of children.”
Speakers highlighted the importance of raising awareness and changing mindsets to overcome barriers around play.
Director of the Center for Injury Prevention Bangladesh (CIPRB) Prof Saidur Rahman Mashreky said the policy makers can enable the right environment of play. This requires behaviour change through making parents, teachers, and society aware of the importance of play in children's development. Developing policy briefs can help us influence long term changes.
Education Advisor at USAID Sudeb Kumar Biswas pointed out that knowledge gaps and lack of positive mindsets act as barriers to a playful environment, hindering cognitive, language, physical, and psycho-social development.
Sesame Workshop Bangladesh Managing Director Mohammad Shah Alam emphasized on the lack of awareness among adults about the safe play environment and access to quality play materials is causing children to spend time with maids who have the least awareness regarding positive parenting.
Manager of ECCD at the Shishuder Jonno Program of Save the Children Zannatun Nahar mentioned the importance of having play assessment tools and the burning need of a situation analysis on play in Bangladesh.
Deputy Director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) Tapon Kumar Das pointed out that the limitation of playgrounds for children is visible both in urban and rural contexts. The voice and choice of children and inclusiveness is not usually considered in developing policies for the wellbeing of children.
Prof Mahjabeen talked about how spending a long-time watching screens damages brain connectivity and children’s understanding of right and wrong.
Director at the DPE Mohiuddin Ahmed Talukder said the government has already prioritized play based learning at the pre-primary level through the recent curriculum revision for five-plus and four-plus children. Additionally, their schools had decoration guidelines to create a learning environment through play.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
