Indian actor and author Mandira Bedi said that unstructured play is a vital necessity for children rather than a privilege or a prize [1].
Bedi's comments highlight a growing concern regarding the cognitive and emotional development of children in high-pressure academic environments. By advocating for play, she suggests that the current trend of prioritizing formal instruction over free time may hinder the growth of essential life skills.
Speaking during an NDTV segment linked to the #MadeInPlay Summit, Bedi said that play is how children learn empathy, problem-solving, and connection [3]. The summit was organized by Bachpan Manao in collaboration with the EkStep Foundation and NDTV [3].
Bedi pointed to the prevalence of extracurricular schedules as a primary barrier to this development. She said that the pressure to enroll in additional tutoring and activities has left little room for spontaneous interaction. "Every single child in my daughter's class has classes after school – where is the play?" Bedi said [1].
She urged parents and schools to reconsider the balance between structured learning and free time. According to Bedi, the absence of play limits a child's ability to navigate social complexities and build emotional resilience [1, 2].
Bedi said that the benefits of unstructured play are not merely recreational but are fundamental to a child's early childhood experience [2, 3]. She called for a systemic shift to ensure that children have the freedom to explore and interact without the oversight of a formal curriculum [1].
“Play is not a privilege or a prize but a vital way children learn empathy, problem-solving, and connection.”
This advocacy reflects a broader global debate on 'educational inflation,' where the perceived need for competitive advantages leads parents to replace free play with structured enrichment. By framing play as a developmental requirement rather than a luxury, the discussion shifts from a matter of leisure to a matter of public health and cognitive science.
