International webinar co-hosted by
COFACE Families Europe and Mattel
On the 11th June 2025 from 4 PM – 5.30 PM CET (Brussels time) and on the occasion of the International Day of Play, this webinar explored how play can help future generations to rebuild connections and restore happiness. Play is a recognised universal right (UNCRC Article 31), but is also a critical pathway to well-being, connection, and creativity. This is especially relevant in our increasingly disconnected and stressful lives.
The webinar gathered key stakeholders from United Nations, European institutions, national decision-makers, civil society and industry, in a discussion about the benefits of play for children and families. The event will mark this second edition of the UN International Day of Play.
Panel
Moderated by Elizabeth Gosme, Director at COFACE Families Europe
Speakers
1. Marie-Cécile Rouillon, European Commission coordinator on the Rights of the Child
2. Bertrand Bainvel, Representative to EU Institutions, UNICEF
3. Willy Bergogné, Director, Save the Children EU
4. Chris Down, Chief Design Officer, Mattel
Key questions and points of discussion
- What is the best place to look for a collection of research publicly available that explores how play (and what kind of play) improves cognitive, mental and social development in children?
- Who have you seen as the main creators and facilitators of play across your experiences and research, educators, parents, other children, institutions, etc? Put differently who do you feel is the most impactful recipient of right to play advocacy?
- Playful approaches can also help ‘teach’ children to be inclusive towards their peers with different abilities
- I have a question about plays that could help to identify mistreatment of children or abuse. Have they been developed? either for families or for schools?
- The EU is a very strong supporter of Education in Emergencies. To ensure quality education play can make a huge contribution to child development. How do we ensure with so many priority to keep this focus?
- Just sharing our approach with single parent families in Scotland: we regularly hold our get ready for summer event to promote low or no costs activities during summer holidays e.g scavenger hunts puddle jumping particularly important for families impacted with poverty.
- For small children play is actually the way they learn almost everything. Play is therefore crucial and it doesn’t take any sophisticated toys, free play is really the best way to learn and develop for this age group.
- Very interesting views indeed on the fundamental role that playing has on the development of almost every aspect of children’s lives. I also think we all really need it at any age for improving our everyday quality of life, by looking at things through the eyes of children!
- It was very good to hear from everyone, including from Bertrand about the efforts to challenge stereotyping and increase diversity in toy marketing and on packaging, the important studies mentioned from Chris at Mattel, and the diversity represented in the Mattel lines. At Let Toys Be Toys we feel it is so important not to limit children’s access to play with barriers like outdated gender stereotypes, and to be as inclusive as possible in all ways.
- For children, they will naturally play provided they are given the time and the space
- Play can also be empowering for children or adolescents to also design or organise games or plays involving peers…challenge rules and create new ones!
Resources shared during the webinar
- Study by Mattel on the Shape of Play
- Save the Children Resource centre
- Family nest model in Estonia – Perepesa
