Confronting the Play Crisis as Kids Spend More Time on Screens

South African children are in trouble. They're moving less, playing less, and spending more time in front of screens than ever before, and the consequences are showing.

- Citizen reporter

In response to this crisis, Toys R Us has declared 26 July as National Play Day, calling on families across the country to stop, reconnect, and prioritize play.

This announcement is part of the broader Superpower of Play campaign, aimed at reigniting awareness around the importance of play in healthy childhood development. But this isn't just a feel-good initiative; it's an urgent response to hard-hitting realities and to encourage kids to play every day.

According to the World Health Organization, children aged five to 17 should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Yet global data shows that more than 80% of children are falling short of this recommendation.