Montreal Children’s Hospital celebrates first-ever International Day of Play

It’s the first-ever International Day of Play!

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe this annually, every June 11, in efforts to “preserve, promote, and prioritize playing so that all people, especially children, can reap the rewards and thrive to their full potential,” they say.

The Montreal Children’s Hospital marked the day on Tuesday with special activities for families and patients to enjoy.

“Despite being hospitalized,” said Anna Paliotti, Child Life Specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. “Play is so important.”

“We really want to underline the importance of it.”

“We’re so excited,” she adds. “That it’s being underlined on a global level like this.”

Playing, the UN says, creates learning opportunities for kids across all areas of development – intellectual, social, emotional and physical.

The Child Life Department of the Montreal Children’s Hospital underlined the importance of the day through activities on all the inpatient units in the morning and had fun themselves preparing games for patients and their families at the hospital’s playground in the afternoon.

“It’s important for kids to be entertained at the hospital,” said Ludovic Arcamone, parent whose child is a paient at the hospital. “We need to change their mind.”

“It’s good for them to play around here.”

The hospital even handed out 300 bags filled with toys – a way to encourage play everyday.

“It’s a very good distraction,” said Fortune Solanke, mother of Graceson Solanke, who is a patient at the hospital. “It distracts them from the pain and it makes parents feel that they are getting better.”

“So I think it’s fantastic.”

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“Whatever circumstances,” said Paliotti. “The play continues.”

“Just to have this globally on the same day is just amazing.”