UNICEF marked their inaugural International Day of Play by painting the first of 35 planned hopscotch courts in early childhood schools across Jamaica at the Chetolah Mel Nathan Education Centre, emphasising the critical role of play in early childhood development.

The education centre, located in Hannah Town, benefited from UNICEF’s partnership with Sherwin-Williams West Indies Limited to paint a hopscotch court for students. It was officially handed over during a ceremony at the school.

Principal of Chetolah Mel Nathan Education Centre Tamara Rowe said these initiatives are important for the 245 students at her school because of limited opportunities for them to play.

“We operate in a community where play is restricted because of the violence. So once they leave here when they go home they go in. So it is hard for them to play physically, to go out and to run and to be free and to be children. So whatever opportunity that we get here to afford them the opportunity to play, we try to facilitate it,” she explained.

Rowe, while referring to the challenges faced with rain when they were preparing the hopscotch court, noted that she did not hesitate to accept the offer because of the importance of providing more productive playing opportunities to children at the school.

“It is not often that a partnership with so many stakeholders happens practically overnight. Here at Chetolah we value play; it is important that children play with their peers, with their teachers, with their parents, and we provide platforms for all of that to happen,” she said.

In the meantime, acting communications manager of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Sophia Stewart encouraged parents to not only allow their children to play, but to play with their children as well.

“I want to encourage parents to play with your children. Sometimes they believe us as adults we do not play and when we link it back to mental health we realise now more than ever that play is just as valuable to them as it is to us,” she said.

According to Stewart, the ECC is actively engaged in a campaign in Jamaica aimed at changing the culture surrounding playing habits. She emphasised the need for parents to shift from discouraging to encouraging play among children due to its significant impact on child development.

“Our parents didn’t realise that, yes, it was when we were playing that we would basically be reviewing everything that [the] teacher would have said in class. It was then that the learning experience became more meaningful because children want to know that when I do this in class, how does it apply to what I will do when I become an adult,” Stewart emphasised as she criticised what she described as the “ramp too much” culture by many Jamaican parents towards their children.

She praised UNICEF’s initiative, noting that it coincides with the work done by the ECC in 2023 to provide 70 hopscotch courts and 70 play kits to early childhood institutions across Jamaica.

UNICEF Representative to Jamaica Olga Isaza said the plan to construct 35 hopscotch courts across schools in Jamaica stems from the celebration of the 35th anniversary since the signing of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

She said the hopscotch will reinforce basic core values and provides an opportunity to reinforce what children are learning.

“Every child loves to play it is a fundamental right for every child. It is essential for their cognitive, emotional and social development. Having an International Day of Play will raise awareness of the importance of play and to ensure that all children have access to safe and engaging playing opportunities,” she said.