Students at Northlands Primary School celebrated Global School Play Day this week, using screen-free activities to learn, solve problems and express themselves creatively.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said that the international event, held on Wednesday, was intended to highlight unstructured play as a vital part of child development.

The spokeswoman said: “Throughout the day, students participated in a wide range of hands-on activities designed to support brain development, emotional regulation and essential life skills.

“Children brought their own toys to encourage sharing and co-operation, created chalk art to express creativity and engaged in board games such as checkers, puzzles, Connect Four, Jenga and Snakes and Ladders to strengthen problem-solving and executive functioning skills.”

Students also took part in sensory play including water activities.

Hands-on tasks such as sorting, stacking, organising and tower building were undertaken as well as movement-based activities including trampolines, dancing, bowling, hula-hooping and netball.

La-Keesha Bean, a school counsellor, said: “Play is a powerful social-emotional learning tool.

“Through play, students strengthen relationship skills, self-management, responsible decision-making and social awareness.

“It supports the diverse learning and emotional needs of both children and adults.”

Holly Richardson, the school principal, added: “There is no better way to learn and grow than through play for adults and children.”

The day also built on professional development delivered to educators across the Bermuda public school system at the start of the school year, which emphasised the health, developmental and social-emotional benefits of play

Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, said: “Initiatives like Global School Play Day nurture wellbeing while helping our young people build the social and life skills they will carry with them well beyond the classroom.

“It’s truly heart-warming to see students at Northlands Primary School fully engaged in good old-fashioned, hands-on learning through play.”