Leveraging International Day of Play to Boost Joyful Interactions Between Young Mothers and Children
Women face persistent inequities globally and during times of insecurity and crisis, young mothers (under the age of 18) are especially vulnerable. Lack of knowledge and ability to exercise rights guaranteed through policies and laws heightened by economic conditions, forced displacement, and natural disasters lead to reduced access to and control over resources that support young mothers. Added stressors due to environmental influences, physical and mental shifts particularly during the transition to adolescent motherhood impacts the quality of mother-child relationships.
For the first time, International Day of Play will take place annually starting on June 11th. An estimated 43% of children ages 0-5 years in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential. Currently, children and their families are experiencing shocks related to climate change, economic crises, and conflict. Play is more important now than ever– opportunities for play, exploration, and bonding caregiver-child relationships enhance resilience allowing children to be better equipped when dealing with fears, worries, and frustrations later in life.
Evidence shows that adolescent mothers demonstrate a lower involvement in care and play compared to older mothers. Studies point to less expressiveness of warmth and positive emotions as well as greater exposure to negative engagement related to depression, parenting stress and low self-esteem. The absence of parental responsiveness and playful parent-child interactions is linked to increased behavioral problems in children. Play contributes to positive physical, cognitive, social-emotional development and well-being of young children. The benefits for parents when engaged in play with children are widely recognized too– play regulates the body’s stress response.
Creating a supportive environment that focuses on young mothers’ well-being is essential in fostering joyful interactions and playfulness with young children. As we champion the right of all children to play, we should also focus on holistic, inclusive approaches to ensuring young mothers receive adequate support. To ensure that every child and family experiences the joy of play, support for young mothers should:
Build knowledge around mental health including stress regulation and self-care; focus efforts on awareness-raising regarding their agency and well-being as well as advancing their participation.
Enhance identification of support networks around them within family and community structures. Peer groups and interventions focused on shifting familial and community attitudes in support of young mothers and their well-being may trigger playful parenting and overall harmony.
Identify services, referral systems and care for young mothers; improve access to rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive services related to health, child and social protection.
Provide guided support on how to playfully engage with children. This includes equipping them with the skills needed and empowering them to recognize their role in providing meaningful play experiences. Children are not the only ones that benefit, young mothers do too– joyful moments of fun and learning build a sense of well-being and form stronger connections.
About the Author:
Fabiola A. Lara is Founder and Principal Consultant at EquaNurture.