Sharing the Festive Feeling

“As parents and caregivers, let’s make time to play and learn with our children, making it a priority for every child everywhere.”Kareena Kapoor KhanActor & National Ambassador, UNICEF India

“Going out, playing with friends, and having a good time with family are important for children because they help in overall development and support their mental, physical, and emotional well-being.” Ayushmann KhurranaActor & National Ambassador, UNICEF India

"I feel that childhood can only be enriched when you get a chance to step out of your house, meet other children too, and enjoy the outdoors. It’s important to celebrate childhood as you grow."Shabana AzmiActor

“Play is not a luxury. It's an essential part of a child's ability to both survive and thrive.”Cynthia McCaffreyRepresentative, UNICEF India

"All parents say that children should get good marks. I believe that achieving good marks also requires physical strength and good blood circulation. Playing outside is essential for brain activity."JyothikaActor

"Never pressure your child about anything or force them to do something, because the more you do that, the more reluctant they will become." Rishab Rikhiram SharmaMusician

"I learned about the wonderful campaign, Bachpan Manao. It highlights the importance of a child's first 3,000 days, up to age 8 emphasising that play is essential."Darsheel Safary Actor

"We know education is important, but so are play and sports, as they keep you refreshed, active, and energetic. They support both physical and mental development.”Guranshi SharmaBadminton Deaflympics Gold Medallist, UNICEF India Youth Advocate

"Play is essential for all children, everywhere. Play is more than just fun. It's a powerful tool for learning, exploration, and building a happy, healthy future. Praise them, stay enthusiastic, appreciate and encourage them."Sunisha AhujaEducation Specialist (Foundational Learning) UNICEF India

"Play is the foundation of future learning. It builds curiosity, creativity, social skills and all-round development. With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 endorsing a play-based approach to education for young children, the time is now right to implement this."Rukmini BanerjiCEO, Pratham Education Foundation

“Play comes naturally to a child as it is an essential and inborn ingredient for the child's brain growth. Depriving a child of play opportunities is nothing short of depriving them the right to grow and develop.”Venita KaulProfessor Emerita-Education, Ambedkar University Delhi

"Play is a primal, instinctive learning process for children. An unstructured exploration, it helps develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills holistically. And children know how to play. Attempting to teach ‘play’ is like instructing a fish to swim or a bird to fly!"Reva Jhingan Malik Co-Founder, Primalise

"Play is the most joyful and deepest form of learning but is treated by adults like a privilege. If we want happy, well-adjusted children, we need to bring back childhood and bring back play."Nita Luthria RowDirector, Adhyayan Quality Education Foundation

“A child's laughter holds the power to heal wounds that words cannot. In a country where nearly 50% of children coexist with crises due to conflict, natural disasters, or harsh geographies, play and joyful learning give them the chance to reclaim their right to thrive, not just survive."Ashish Shalini Shrivastava Co-Founder, Shiksharth

"Every child deserves holistic growth (physical, mental, and emotional) nurtured through learning, play, and leisure--essential as food for the body. Play isn’t just extracurricular, it’s fundamental. Play teaches democratic values and how to balance freedom with responsibility."Parul ShethFounder Trustee and Executive Director, Shaishav Child Rights