Play The Only Form of Acceptable Child Labour

By Sahar Taha, Education Technical Specialist and Elio Haddad, Education Technical Coordinator at World Vision Lebanon

Jean Piaget (1896-1980), the Swiss child psychologist, famously claimed that “play is the work of childhood”. Decades later, educators, caregivers, and most importantly children, still perceive play as one of the most important elements of their childhood.

In Lebanon, a country hit by numerous crises during the past 5 years, children’s playtime was more often than not neglected. However, when asked to draw their perception of play during a learning session of our remedial education programme, children ages 6 to 10 in Tripoli, South, and North Lebanon unsurprisingly still prioritized it and expressed its positive effect on their well-being and education.

These drawings reflect how children perceive play in their areas:

Children saw play first and foremost as a chance to establish nurturing relationship with their peers – a means to know and be known among their classes and communities. Moreover, children perceived play as an opportunity to develop social skills as they interacted with one another. Children also saw play as an occasion to spend time outdoors and connect with nature. Finally, play was perceived as a safe haven for children to rest and enjoy their time free from emotional and physical threats.