Special guest post: Right to Play

I went to university with a couple of Nicks. One married one of my besties, and I happened to live abroad at the same time – but not with – the other. This other Nick turned out to be a blogger, too. A daddy blogger.

I’m delighted to share a special guest post from Nick about a program that’s near to his heart: Right to Play. Read on to learn more about how you could visit Africa as Right to Play’s guest (you must qualify before Dec. 13, 2012).

You can find Nick at CanaDad or @nickcheeseman on Twitter.

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Play.

So simple. So fundamental. So joyous.

Play is one of the most important parts of learning. Games and play teach essential life skills. Children have the right to play.

Did you know that play-based learning is a staple in Canadian homes? Most Canadian parents use play-based learning to teach essential life skills to children:

• 83 per cent of Canadian parents say they use play to help resolve conflict
• 76 per cent use play as an educational focus
• 72 per cent also use play for team-building

Overall, 97 per cent of Canadian parents use these techniques in their households.

Some would say “mission accomplished,” but sadly this critical tool is unavailable to far too many children in the developing world. Right To Play is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play – particularly sports and games – to educate and empower children facing adversity.

There are millions of children around the world who aren’t able to play. Right To Play’s work provides children everywhere the skills they need to develop equally and reach their potential.

For example, Right To Play helps develop communities by empowering young individuals with the confidence to become leaders of change. In Benin (a country in West Africa), Right To Play helps both children and parents understand their children’s rights as well as raise awareness and prevention methods within their communities.

Right To Play employs a complex methodology that goes beyond simply building knowledge and awareness. It ensures participants acquire skills to adopt and maintain behaviours such as self-esteem and problem-solving.

Right To Play’s focus on experiential learning ensures that, through play, children can reflect, connect and apply essential learning. To ensure quality implementation, Right To Play also employs a delivery model that builds local capacity and sustainability. But at its core is the belief that every child has the right to play.

Help us Level The Field and provide children around the world with the opportunity to play. By voting on the program that you want to see in action, you’ll have a chance to go to Africa with the team that has the most votes and see Right To Play’s work in action.

To learn more, please visit Level The Field.