UNICEF Stresses Play as Essential for Children’s Mental Health

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized that play is a fundamental need for children’s healthy mental and physical development and should not be overlooked. On Monday, 2 February, UNICEF tweeted that play plays a key role in enhancing learning, developing cognitive skills, and protecting children’s mental and physical health. According to UNICEF, play provides a safe environment for experience, creativity, and social interaction.

The organization stated that providing opportunities for play can help children better manage psychological stress and develop social and cognitive skills—abilities that are vital for their daily lives and future. This warning comes at a time when children in Afghanistan are under significant pressure due to harsh living conditions that severely threaten their mental health. A lack of educational resources, limited access to health services, and continuous exposure to violence and humanitarian crises have weakened children’s psychological well-being.

Moreover, extensive restrictions on educational and recreational spaces, especially during the Taliban administration, have deprived many children of safe environments for play, learning, and social growth—an issue that has raised concerns among international organizations.