Reimagining Childhood: A Playful Perspective
Approximately one-third of children are deprived of the opportunity for creative endeavors.
Berlin (dpa) - The digital age has left us in a pinch: According to a recent survey by the German Children’s Aid Foundation (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk) conducted on World Play Day, an alarming 37% of those with kids at home believe their little ones don't get enough time and opportunities for creativity. The survey results, reported by Forsa, demonstrate that the majority (96%) perceives creative activities as crucially important, but only 51% believe kids have enough opportunities for such adventures outside of school and kindergarten.
The survey unveils an obvious issue: Digital media are deemed as potential barriers, with 81% of respondents agreeing that their constant availability could curb children's enthusiasm for creative pursuits. Moreover, a majority (75%) suspects that grownups may fail to offer enough support or nurture the spark of creativity in their innocent minds. No bucks to spare in the household may also wreak havoc on budding Picassos, with those belonging to families with lower income agreeing more fervently (70%). There's also more worry about a scarcity of exciting and easily accessible options in the East (54%) compared to the West (35%).
The survey was orchestrated by the Forsa polling institute from April 14th to 16th, 2025, and comprised 1,001 haphazardly selected German-speaking citizens aged eighteen and up.
Celebrating Creativity: The Essence of Childhood
The survey emphasizes the indispensable role of creative activities and free play in a child's development, according to the German Children’s Aid Foundation. Not only does creativity bring fun to a child's life but it also fosters cognitive abilities and community ties, said Holger Hofmann, CEO of the German Children's Aid Foundation.
Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms that every child has the right to play, leisure, and rest. International efforts strive to raise awareness of this fundamental right through World Play Day on June 11th. In Germany, the German Children's Aid Foundation and the 'Right to Play' alliance are orchestrating a multitude of actions around the day.
The survey, which sheds light on the importance of creative activities and play for children’s development, identifies several significant barriers – digital media overuse, lack of support and encouragement, and accessibility issues – and calls on everyone, especially adults, to take action to enable a playful and creatively engaged childhood.
What can be done to address the lack of creative opportunities for children at home and in their lifestyle? Engaging with home-and-garden projects could provide another avenue for nurturing creativity and fun, as advocated by the German Children's Aid Foundation.
