United Nations International Day of Play 11th June 2024 incorporating Australian Conference On Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ACND) 2025 Theme Launch
Dr Lindsay Smith
United Nations declared “The first-ever International Day of Play, to be observed on 11 June 2024, (to help) prioritize playing so that all people, especially children, can reap the rewards and grow to their potential. (Play) is a universal language spoken by people of all ages. For children in particular, play helps build relationships and improves control and problem-solving. It helps children develop cognitive, physical, creative, social, and emotional skills.” (United Nations, Play Makes a Better World, 2024 https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-play)
Neurodiversity speaks the language of play. It may be hard to hear and understand the neurodiverse play language, yet with patience, practice, and opportunities to play everyone's unique language of play can be heard. When it is difficult to express aspects of yourself and it is difficult to communicate verbally, play is a language we can use.
- We can purposefully play with our loved ones and use play in our professional service.
- Play extraordinarily helps life to be lived better.
Creative and safe play involves purposeful activities tailored to co-create the context for growth and enjoyment, providing a focused outlet for expression, a safe space for acceptance, and navigating emotions.
All these elements of play Elisabeth has shared with us this morning are universal and available to everyone at any level of entry to play. Creating the context where play is entered in is the key to experiencing play as an individual, family or group of friends. We can and should purposefully create play as a way of being.
It is with great excitement we announce today that the theme for the 4th Australian Conference On Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
The next Conference Dates are 19 - 20 September 2025
ACND will continue to build on the legacy of forging a positive view of neurodiversity, emphasising the inherent value and strengths of our unique differences and our common humanity. Our unique delegate combination of professional expertise across education and health with insights from lived experience is fostering a rich dialogue leading the conversation around best practice.
The 2025 ACND theme is Connecting Through Play
I hope you enjoy this morning's activities celebrating International Day of Play and are as excited as the ACND Committee is to be able to bring to Launceston and Tasmania the international gathering that will brighten your world through a deeper relationship with play.
Play allows everyone to move away from the challenges experienced and engage with self, others, objects and thoughts with freedom and safety.
- In play, we share moments. Moments of celebration, joy, hope, and growth.
- In play people build connections with others, objects, thoughts, and self.
- In play we draw on our strengths, practice how to use our strengths to resolve challenges, and build resilience. Play provides an outlet for self-expression and exploration of identity.
- In play, we engage with the lived experience of reality and in the transcendent in new ways.
- In play, people safely experience who they are, can and want to be without everyday limitations. Play can foster a sense of belonging and acceptance, providing opportunities to connect with others, build friendships, and feel valued for who you are.
Community Play Date –Channel 7 news, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShHt4_YMVEQ (9.21 to 11:06 minutes).