Get Ready to Play. It's LEGO® World Play Day!

What is LEGO World Play Day?

Play is part of the LEGO Group’s DNA—and it has been since day one. Our mission, then, and every day, is to fuel kids’ imagination, spark creativity, and become a global force for learning through play. And because preserving the right to play for all is so important, we joined forces with the United Nations to mark a day and share with the world why play matters.

World Play Day takes place on June 11 every year to remind everyone about the power of play and how much fun and powerful it can be. 

Why is play so important?

Play is powerful. It ignites creativity, builds connections, and empowers kids to shape their ideas into reality, creating a world of possibilities that is undeniably important.

The United Nations adopted an official International Day of Play and declared it a fundamental right for every child everywhere. This date is aimed to raise awareness about the importance of play in children’s lives and inspire the world to ensure that all children can fulfill their human right to play.

Because here’s the thing: play isn’t just fun—it’s fundamental. Play is the key to unlocking a child’s potential and is critical to their cognitive, social, and emotional development. It helps them forge connections, develop communication skills, and navigate relationships. It fosters resilience, helping kids tackle challenges and overcome fears. It sparks curiosity, encouraging them to explore, wonder, and think creatively—building confident problem-solvers with a deeper understanding of the world. In short, play helps children thrive. And who doesn’t want that? 

The state of play: Insights from the Play Well Study

In 2024, over 61,000 people across 36 countries took part in the LEGO® Play Well Study, a huge piece of research designed by the LEGO Group to find out what the world—especially children—thinks about play. 

Here are the key highlights:

Play feels good—for everyone

96% of children and 91% of parents say play is important for their well-being. It helps children take their minds off school and helps grown-ups relax. And play isn’t just great for parents and children individually—the study showed that when families play together, they are happier, closer, and more communicative.

There’s no wrong way to play

Play isn’t—and shouldn’t—be perfect. That’s why children love it. They can experiment, try things out, and think creatively. If something doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter—90% of children say play is important as it teaches them new things.

Play helps children’s development

Play is essential, not only for children’s happiness but for their development. Over 89% of parents agree that it helps their young ones develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. And 4 in 5 recognize the role digital play has in helping their children make friends and socialize.

Play helps children learn

98% of parents say that play can help their little ones develop a growth mindset, 84% believe it supports learning, and 82% say it builds essential tech-related skills. And what do children think? 88% say play is the best way for them to learn, develop, and be less afraid of making mistakes.

Play builds confidence

Play helps children become more confident, and 91% of parents even say it builds their child’s creative confidence. Over 90% of grown-ups also shared that play helps their little ones express themselves and experiment. And children agree. 89% say playtime is when they feel they can be 100% themselves.

But, we’re still not playing enough…

Yet, despite all the benefits, both parents and children crave more playtime. 20% of parents say they never play as a family and 89% are concerned that their child doesn’t have enough playtime with the whole family. 88% of children and 87% of parents wish they could play more, and 57% of parents wish they could play more as a family.

It’s time to prioritize play

You won’t be surprised to hear parents worry about their children’s screen time. But they worry about their own, too, confessing they spend twice as much time on their phones and laptops as they do playing with their families. And 66% say work interferes with playtime.

However, life’s busy for everyone. Grown-ups have jobs and commitments, and children have school, homework, and chores. So, how do you prioritize play? Chat with each other and make space for play to improve the whole family’s happiness, well-being, and creativity.

Remember, playful parenting doesn’t need to be hard work—you’re probably doing lots of playful things already. But if you’ve run out of inspiration, we’ve gathered some of our favorite games on the LEGO Play Well Study homepage.

How do I get involved in LEGO World Play Day?

Ready to join the play party? You can celebrate World Play Day wherever you are!

Play is for everyone—from building epic LEGO® creations to making up games with friends and family. Start playing today and keep unleashing your imagination all year long!

And don't forget to visit our World Play Day page for even MORE inspiration on June 11. 

But if you need inspiration before then, don’t worry. We can help! Check out our Family Portal for awesome challenges and games.

Let’s unleash the power of play—together.