Sport Is Play. And Every Child, Everywhere, Deserves It.

Forbes

2 days ago

By Laurie Hernandez, Olympic Gymnast and UNICEF Ambassador
UNICEF Ambassador Laurie Hernandez plays with migrant children in a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space in Panama during a program visit in 2023.
When people ask how I became an Olympic gymnast, they usually expect a story about structure, discipline, and long hours in the gym. But it started with something much simpler: play.
Before the medals and routines or 'Dancing with the Stars', I was just a kid moving because it was fun — cartwheels in the backyard, climbing furniture, dancing in the kitchen. That's how I built confidence. That's how I learned to take risks. It wasn't 'training' back then. It was just play.
Today, on the International Day of Play, I'm thinking about how important that was—and how many kids never get the chance to experience it. Globally, half of the world's 3- to 6-year-olds have no access to early childhood education, which often includes learning through play, and about 20 percent of 2 to 4-year-olds do not play with caregivers at home.
As a UNICEF Ambassador, I've seen how critical play is for children around the world. It's not just about fitness or competition. It's about growth, resilience and mental health. It's about having a support system, and building the kind of self-belief that goes beyond the field or court and most importantly, being a child.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries to make sure kids everywhere have access to safe spaces to play, whether they're living through a natural disaster, fleeing conflict or growing up in underserved communities. That might mean visiting one of UNICEF's many child-friendly spaces, supporting girls' access to sports, or training local coaches who can do more than just teach technique. They help kids feel seen, safe and included.
In 2023, I visited a Migration Reception Station at the Darién Gap and spent time with children in a UNICEF child-friendly space. Despite the difficult and often dangerous journey they had been through, they were eager to play — a brief chance to just be a child. And this past weekend, I was at TST—The Soccer Tournament, San Antonio Spurs Chris Paul's high-profile event in North Carolina, spending time in the UNICEF Kids Zone. The space gave kids a place to move, explore and enjoy themselves all while highlighting the work UNICEF does to ensure every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected – and has the opportunity to be a child. And honestly, it was a reminder that no matter the setting, from local to global, sport has the same power: to connect, to empower, to build up.
Play might look different for every child, but the impact is universal.
A child has fun in the UNICEF Kids Zone at the 2025 TST—The Soccer Tournament in North Carolina.
We all know what sport can do. It creates opportunity. It brings people together. And it shapes who we are, not just as athletes, but as people.
That's why play matters. Because when kids don't have access to play; when they're excluded because of poverty, crisis, or discrimination; we're cutting them off from some of the most powerful tools we have for development and recovery.
A safe space to play is a foundation for confidence, creativity and lifelong resilience. Every kid deserves that. Not just the talented or the lucky, but every single one. Join me in supporting UNICEF's mission to support every child's right to play. You can also advocate for safe play spaces in your own community, or volunteer as a coach or mentor. Even sharing a simple moment of play with a child in your life can spark growth and joy. Let's make play possible.
For more information please visit unicefusa.org