June 11th, 2026
To celebrate International Day of Play, we've joined UNICEF UK to champion every child's right to play, and share what nearly 900 of our educators know about how it shapes the early years.
We are pleased to be celebrating today’s International Day of Play, in support of our charity partner UNICEF, by launching a publication designed to help families better understand how play supports children’s development in nurseries and at home.
The ‘Partou Guide to Play’ draws on the professional expertise and personal experiences of almost 900 early years educators from 99 of our nurseries around the country around the country who completed a bespoke survey.
Detailed analysis of the 869 responses enabled us to summarise the lessons as ‘The Five Big Play Truths’:
Of the Partou educators surveyed, 80% agreed that outdoor play is a top activity across all early years age groups, with physical development cited as the principal benefit.
Almost 9 in 10 highlighted sensory play – often referred to as ‘messy play’ by families – as a key experience for children, with 95% saying it was a favourite for babies (0–2 years) whilst still highly valued for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Around 8 in 10 named books and storytelling as a favourite for young children, but said engagement is highest when combined with songs, movement and interactive play.
The survey results showed that books are a preference for babies, with older children favouring more active imaginative play and group-themed activities.
Indeed, imaginative play – regarded as a primary vehicle for understanding the world and building relationships – was found to be a top activity by around 90% of preschool educators, with the right setup and adult interaction.
However, more than a third of respondents reported that any activity regarded by the children as too structured or adult-led, such as ‘table-top’ tasks, lost their interest.
Amongst other findings from our research, almost 8 in 10 educators said children’s favourite play combines multiple play types – generally a combination of outdoor, sensory and imaginative play – with almost 90% agreeing that movement is a popular component.
The ‘Partou Guide to Play’ reflects our long-standing focus on play-based learning and the expertise specialist educators bring, by creating environments that support children on their learning journey.
It combines practical ideas for families with expert insight into how play helps children build confidence, communication skills, resilience, independence and emotional wellbeing during the critical early years.
The publication also highlights how sensory play helps children explore textures, sounds, movement and materials to strengthen coordination, communication and emotional regulation, while open-ended play encourages children to solve problems, test ideas and build independence through imagination-led experiences.
Kirsty Jackson, Partou’s Co-Managing Director, said:
“Play is how young children learn to understand the world around them. It supports everything from language and social development to emotional confidence, creativity and resilience.
“Our educators are highly skilled in recognising how different types of play support different areas of development and create experiences that help children learn naturally through curiosity, exploration and interaction.
“The ‘Partou Guide to Play’ shares some of that expertise with families, helping them to feel confident that everyday moments of play at home can have a hugely positive impact on their child’s development.”
Through our partnership with UNICEF UK, Partou is supporting International Day of Play to champion every child’s right to play and to raise awareness of the importance of play to healthy childhood development.
Andy Todd, Director of Partnerships at UNICEF UK, said:
“International Day of Play celebrates the power of play and the important role it has in children’s development and wellbeing.
“It’s also a time when we can come together to make sure that every child is able to fulfil their right to play, and so we’re hugely grateful to our partner, Partou, for championing this in their new Guide to Play.”
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