Experts, researchers, and education specialists said recently that we can create a more well-rounded and enjoyable learning experience for the children by adopting the learning through play approach. The holistic development of children can be ensured through play.
The most crucial step is to begin breaking down barriers by identifying obstacles in free play and guided play for both 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 organized to highlight 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. 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, Education Advisor at USAID Sudeb Kumar Biswas, Manager of ECCD at Shishuder Jonno Program Zannatun Nahar, Project Director (Education Sector) at Save the Children in Bangladesh Shahin Islam, and Honorary Professor Nazmul Haque at IER, Dhaka University.
Contributing to the early development of children aged 0-6 years by providing opportunities to play and promoting more interaction with adults through playful learning materials, and incorporating the Learning through Play approach, 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 areas. 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 improving 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 how Save the Children incorporates play activities globally in the programs to ensure 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” to enhance children’s learning and development outcomes. After the project's completion, they planned to sustain it by selecting leader or champions from among these caregivers and local authorities to keep it going.
Project Director (Education Sector) of Save the Children in Bangladesh 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 spaces for the children to play both outdoors and indoors. Learning through play approach is applied in the pre-primary and the lower grade of primary level (grade I and grade II) but clear instruction on the play-based learning approach in the higher grades (grade III, IV and V) is yet to be incorporated. He also added that if we want to change the mindset, the parents and adults need to visualize the benefits of play and its link to holistic development and learning.
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 emotional, social, physical, language, intellectual, creative, and emotional development of children. Reviving traditional games can contribute to children’s development.”
He mentioned that they were starting a learning program for children aged 1-5 years in 16 districts and there is a plan to work for children aged 3-4 years across Bangladesh with UNICEF, with NCTB's assistance in formulating the curriculum.
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 adults at both the local and national level can enable the right environment of play. This requires behaviour change through knowledge engagement, 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 right mindsets act as barriers to a playful environment, hindering cognitive, language, physical, and psycho-social development.
Esha Husain, partnership lead at Synergos, expressed concerns about the loss of children's creativity and critical analysis skills due to systemic barriers and emphasized on the need for system analysis followed by a long term plan for Smart Bangladesh.
Dr Md Ahsan Habib, professor at the Institute of Education and Research, highlighted that Children tend to pay attention to digital devices. The challenges like Attention Deficiency in children can be facilitated through developing playfulness in play instructors. The role of instructors and adults is crucial to engage children in play. Due to lack of awareness, children are not taught to swim which leads to drowning incidents.
Managing Director of Sesame Workshop Bangladesh 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.
Honorary professor, IER, Dhaka University Nazmul Haque mentioned any item which is safe can be used as play material. But adults need to know how to use it for children's play. For a child, play is their curriculum.
Manager of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) at the Shishuder Jonno Program of Save the Children Zannatun Nahar mentioned the importance of having play assessment tools to ensure the use of play activities in learning centers and pre-primary level. She also highlighted 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 biggest hurdle lies at the policy level, where society, government, and decision-makers need to prioritize child-friendly policies. The limitation of playgrounds for children is visible both in urban and village contexts. The voice and choice of children is not usually considered in developing policies for wider national development.
Prof Mahjabeen Haque from the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at the University of Dhaka, talked about how spending a long time on screens hampers brain development and children’s understanding of right and wrong.
Director at the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Mohiuddin Ahmed Talukder said pre-primary education has already prioritized play through the recent curriculum revision for five-plus and four-plus children. They plan to provide guidelines on 28 types of children-friendly and scientifically appropriate play materials, including 18 types of outdoor play. To ensure a suitable environment, they are working on strong monitoring, training, and system analysis. Additionally, their schools had decoration guidelines to create a learning environment through play.
