Appeal May 2003: Child's right to play

Tetsugoro Nakamura, Chairman of Y-service Committee

The treaty about the right of the child, which came into force as the international law in 1990, expresses loudly child's right to play. (article 31)
The statement says: "The child is a foundation for the future of the world. In all the culture, in all the times, the child was playing. Like the education, the nutrition and the health, the play is essential to develop the potentiality whitch each child has. The play influences all aspects of the life. The play raises the body, intellect and feelings of the child, and socialize him. The play is not a mere leisure. The play is the art to learn life from."
On the other hand, the society of Japan is quite indifferent to the importance of the play of the child. At the school, only the education of the knowledge is always esteemed.
Finally, the school introduced a five-day work week in Japan. Already, we hear mainly the voice to fear that the scholastic ability of the child declines. However, we seldom hear the voice to explain the importance of the play.
The main mission of YMCA is the healthy upbringing of the young people. Because of the security of child's right to play, the volunteer activity of the young people of YMCA is greatly expected.