Inspired by a nine year old Sudanese refugee boy in Cairo, Egypt, this project aims at providing safe centers for free play for children whose circumstances have denied them cognitive, physical, social, and emotional developmental opportunities. Play is the right of every child as defined by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights as it contributes to many facets of well-being for children and youth.
Free play and play behavior have been the focus of several studies of child development. Mostly studied in pre-school children, play behavior indicates levels of cognitive development as determined by age-level characteristics. Consistent with Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, free play helps in the transition from the sensorimotor stage to the preoperational and concrete operational stages that are shown in preschool to early middle school children.
Unfortunately, Yohannes, and many children like him, are unable to enjoy the benefits of free play because of their circumstances. As the United States struggles with factors such as busy schedules, working parents, and a high-tech society, the AAP advises that parents make time for children to have spontaneous free play and enjoy the value of “true toys” such as blocks and puzzles. The same advice can be carried over to children who live in crammed housing, experience unsanitary conditions, lack toys of any value, and are not encouraged to use their imagination.
Sudanese children in Cairo, Egypt lack the proper conditions to enjoy free play. Because of the lack of play and other factors, they experience slower cognitive development, do not practice creativity, exhibit different age-level characteristics, and do not participate in physical activity. This project aims to provide a “yard” for these children to be able to play in safe, creative conditions.
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