On the second annual International Day of Play (June 11), Right To Play and organizations around the world joined together to create the biggest play moment to celebrate the incredible power of play in children’s lives and call for more investments to ensure that children can play in their homes, their schools, and their communities. First established by the United Nations in 2024, IDOP raises awareness that play is not just a pastime – it’s a transformational force in children’s lives.

Right To Play at the United Nations Headquarters

On the morning of June 11, the Right To Play USA team headed over to the United Nations headquarters for a panel discussion to highlight the importance of play. We sat alongside other UN agencies, foundations, organizations and youth to discuss how play is at the center of every child’s life, opportunities for the future, policies and practices and even reflected on how play integrates into our adult lives. Right To Play’s Director of Individual Giving, Yasmin Ibrahim, highlighted how policymakers can prioritize play in their agendas and how utilizing data and evidence can be used as leverage to get them on board:

“Celebrating the International Day of Play is critical - we also need to elevate the power of play in policy-making decisions and recognize the return on investment. Studies consistently show that every dollar invested in early childhood education yields a 7 to 10% annual return through improved health, education, and economic outcomes.”

That evening, our incredible Playmakers community brought the celebration to life at Clinton Hall in NYC. Dozens of young professionals gathered for an evening of connection, games, and advocacy — showing that joy, laughter, and purpose go hand in hand.

DSC03668