UNICEF's Recreation Kit

Playing is a great way to relieve stress. Research has shown that play protects children from the negative impact that spending long periods in stressful situations can have on their physical and mental health. Giving children space to have fun allows them to work through feelings such as pain, fear or loss while still being able to act and play like a child.  

Solving problems and coming up with creative solutions during play also gives them a sense of accomplishment and competence. Play creates powerful learning opportunities for intellectual, social, emotional and physical development.

Promoting well-being 

To help children continue to play and develop their skills during humanitarian crises, UNICEF has created the Recreation Kit, a set of board games and various sports equipment for children and adolescents from 7 to 18 years old. The kit promotes well-being and important life-skills like connecting, communicating with others and managing anger and stress through sports and play activities in contexts of conflict and disaster.

The kit is part of a series of standardized pre-packed kits with items that can address the diverse needs of children and their families when disasters strike.

Check some items of UNICEF's Recreation Kit

Teaching life-skills 

The Recreation Kit includes supplies for indoor and outdoor use, including hacky sacks, balls for various sports and play parachutes. Additional items include measuring tapes, white chalk and skipping ropes that can be used to define boundaries and set up playing fields in any context and situation.  

The kit, available for procurement in the UNICEF Supply Catalogue, can simultaneously engage up to 90 children who can participate in team sports and games under the guidance of a teacher. The supplies come with instructions on various indoor and outdoor activities that the teacher can adapt and implement according to the context and the age of the children participating.