In celebration of the International Day of Play, First Lady Gabriela de Bukele visited the United Nations International School (UNIS) to share the traditional games of El Salvador with students. Accompanied by characters from the popular television series «La Casa de Lula,» Mrs. Bukele brought a piece of Salvadoran culture to children from various countries.
The event marked the inaugural celebration of the International Day of Play, an initiative led by El Salvador. «Happy Play Day to all children! We joined Lula and her animal friends to teach boys and girls from different countries how we play in El Salvador. Together with Lula, our ambassador of play, we shared some of our traditional games with the children of the UN International School. We also donated the ‘Tree of Life Collection,’ which includes the book ‘Games of My Land’,» stated Gabriela de Bukele.
During the visit, children enjoyed playing with traditional toys such as spinning tops (trompos) and cup-and-ball toys (capiruchos). They also participated in circle games (ronda), with the First Lady actively joining in the fun.
According to the Office of the First Lady, scientific evidence shows that play is crucial for children’s learning and their physical, social, and emotional development. Play fosters resilience, creativity, and physical and cognitive skills.
El Salvador has established laws, policies, and strategies that recognize play as a right, as enshrined in the Grow Together Law. «Under the secure environment that El Salvador finally enjoys, the Office of the First Lady promotes play as a tool for the comprehensive development of children,» the office added.
The celebration highlighted the importance of play in child development and the cultural richness of Salvadoran traditions, reinforcing the commitment of El Salvador to the well-being and growth of its younger generations.