International Day of Play: Protect Play, Protect Childhood

Today is the third annual International Day of Play as established by the United Nations. This year's theme is Protect Play, Protect Childhood.In their call to action, the UN through it's agency UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund), is calling on governments, businesses, and other stakeholders to:Scale up services, including parenting programs, that promote play and attachmentEnable access to pre-school and learning through play for every 3-6 year oldEnsure every child has access to safe, inclusive, and well-maintained play areasThe United Nations was founded in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II with the express mission of maintaining world peace. In that same year, Loris Malaguzzi founded the first schools that today are knowns as Reggio Emilia, believing that democratic education was essential to creating a peaceful society. Maria Montessori, the creator of her Montessori approach to early childhood, explicitly saw her work as the path to lasting…