2024 saw the United Nations establish June 11 as International Day of Play, aiming to conserve, elevate, and emphasize playtime for everyone, particularly children, allowing them to maximize their potential. However, declaring an International Day of Play is different from actually executing it. What does it entail? How can we bring it to life? Who can turn this concept into reality? And most crucially, how? A year later, The LEGO Group presented a groundbreaking and imaginative solution to these questions with their World Play Day initiative. This renowned toy company hosted a global celebration by organizing World Play Day events in four significant urban centers worldwide. All these activities were inspired by local children who reside there.
As a movie reviewer, I must say that on June 11, 2025, The LEGO Group truly brought the United Nations’ resolutions to life in a unique and captivating way. They turned the globe into one giant playground by creating extraordinary experiences across Boston, Berlin, London, and Shanghai.
The journey started with LEGO’s Build the Change challenge, an initiative that aimed to empower kids to shape their future. By giving them a platform to express their ideas about reimagining their cities through play, they allowed children themselves to have a voice in shaping their lives.
On June 11, these brilliant ideas—the kind of creative concepts only a child could dream up—came to life, transforming the imagination into reality. It was truly a sight to behold!
In collaboration with local administrations in each of the four cities involved, The LEGO Group constructed distinctive, engaging play zones specifically designed for World Play Day. These activities are exclusive to their respective locations, mirroring the unique character of the city and the preferences of its resident children, thereby creating an experience that truly represents their home.
1. In Berlin, they transformed ordinary spaces into vibrant centers of creativity, sparked by children’s ideas about rhythm and sports. Shanghai’s waterfront was filled with fanciful constructions and engaging activities for kids to explore and appreciate. This summer, London’s Play Pavilion invites everyone to immerse themselves in a playful and imaginative setting.
2. In Berlin, they transformed ordinary spaces into bustling centers of creativity based on children’s visions of rhythm and sport. Shanghai converted its riverfront into a whimsical landscape filled with interactive challenges for kids to engage with and appreciate. This summer, London’s Play Pavilion is offering an immersive experience celebrating playfulness and imagination.
3. Berlin transformed ordinary spaces into dynamic hubs of creativity inspired by children’s thoughts about rhythm and sport. Shanghai’s riverfront became a haven for whimsical structures and interactive activities that children could enjoy. This summer, London’s Play Pavilion is all set to create an immersive environment celebrating play and imagination.
4. In Berlin, they turned ordinary spaces into lively centers of creativity based on children’s ideas about rhythm and sport. Shanghai’s waterfront was transformed into a whimsical playground with interactive challenges for kids to engage in and appreciate. This summer, London’s Play Pavilion is preparing an immersive experience that celebrates playfulness and imagination.
5. In Berlin, they reimagined ordinary spaces as bustling centers of creativity based on children’s visions of rhythm and sport. Shanghai’s riverfront was transformed into a magical realm filled with engaging activities for kids to explore and enjoy. This summer, London’s Play Pavilion is inviting everyone to immerse themselves in an environment that celebrates play and imagination.
In Boston, LEGO’s U.S. headquarters has set up three play zones on the Rose Kennedy Greenway for World Play Day. One area pays tribute to a local sea creature legend, another transforms New England landmarks into interactive games, and the third features a large boombox where children can compose their own music using LEGO Bricks.
As a longtime resident, I was given exclusive access by the LEGO Group to preview their Boston activation before World Play Day. This event has got to be one of the most amazing experiences for kids in the Boston region, and it’s equally impressive as an adult too. The whole setup is imaginative, enjoyable, interactive, and just plain fun. It’s a real playground!
The Dock” honors the legendary Gloucester Sea Creature by transforming this mythical beast into an enormous, vibrant playground. Children have the opportunity to board a giant ship while the monster surrounds it. Additionally, there’s a free claw machine game where they can grab additional unique LEGO pieces to construct their own creature right on location.
At “The Block,” children have the opportunity to play basketball, snap photos, and engage in various games that are characteristic of popular Boston spots. Indeed, it’s not hard to guess, given our New England roots, that there is a donut shop nearby. However, we offer more than just coffee – you’ll also find a bus stop and a lobster shack. Additionally, there’s a place where a photographer will take your picture as you dunk on an oversized hoop. This special moment gets transformed into a free trading card for you to keep as a souvenir.
The standout feature among the three sections is the “The Beat Brick” activation, an incredible concept I never thought LEGO would execute. It’s essentially a colossal beatbox equipped with a pre-programmed step sequencer. Children can manipulate the sounds by placing LEGO bricks on it, and the type of brick (green, blue, or red) determines the unique sound that tile generates. What makes this even more astonishing is not just that each location produces a distinct instrument and note; instead, different colors of bricks subtly alter the sound produced by the corresponding tile.
At the #LEGOWorldPlayDay event in Boston, there’s an amazing boombox that interacts dynamically! Each brick, available in various colors, generates unique sounds when placed on the tiles.
— Michael Walsh, Verified #1 Criston Cole Hater (@burgermike.bsky.social) 2025-06-13T13:24:48.500Z
This boombox is so amazingly captivating, it was challenging to tear myself away from it, as I could’ve lost track of time playing with it. And that’s the essence behind LEGO’s World Play Day; it encourages play during a period when children are engaging in fewer activities than ever before.
As a film enthusiast, I recently learned that LEGO is tackling the increasing issue of “play deficits” – a challenge arising from fewer play opportunities in communities, particularly urban areas where more than one-third of children currently reside (a figure projected to reach 70% by 2050). What’s concerning is that both kids and their parents often feel overlooked when it comes to play facilities being prioritized by local governments. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of play, stating that it fosters values like tolerance, resilience, and social inclusion, contributing significantly to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and overall societal harmony.
This year, the LEGO Group spearheaded the global play party, marking the first World Play Day as a massive endeavor. The project required intricate planning, development, engineering, coordination, and collaboration in four major cities across four distinct companies. They partnered with local governments, groups, artists, and engineers to pull it off. Such an event is typically something a company might attempt once every five years instead of yearly. However, LEGO aims to organize even more events in various locations in the future.
In addition, they’re anticipating that others will join them in championing this noble endeavor as time progresses. For its inaugural World Play Day, the company pulled out all the stops, but they express a desire to be merely one piece of an expansive initiative that incorporates numerous companies, organizations, and cities moving forward. However, don’t misunderstand; The LEGO Group isn’t simply handing over responsibility for this goal. They remain steadfastly committed. I was fortunate enough to converse with the President of The LEGO Group America, Skip Kodak, and inquired about his vision for World Play Day five or ten years from now.
He shared:
I’d be thrilled if we could replicate the fantastic events happening this week in Boston, and many other cities, over the coming days. It’s not just about The LEGO Group spearheading it; we’re more than willing to take part. We view this as a crucial aspect of our mission – fostering learning through play on a global scale.
However, what truly excites us is the idea of urban planners and city leaders recognizing the appeal of play as an integral part of their service to citizens. Instead of us figuring out how to make this happen, it would be wonderful if they saw the value in incorporating play into their cities’ offerings. This element, which is often missing from city infrastructure, can significantly enhance quality of life.
To initiate a self-sustaining trend and have it grow steadily over the next decade, gaining traction such that it becomes an appealing aspect of a community? As communities vie for talent, residents, and tax revenue, this quality could prove decisive, particularly for those aiming to draw families.
It’s clear from the conversations during World Play Day that everyone involved truly values this initiative. They are passionate and enthusiastic about this project, and rightfully so. After all, a renowned global toy company like LEGO, acting according to its highest principles, granted them the opportunity and resources to construct unique, globally-inspired playgrounds based on children’s ideas worldwide. This is genuinely heartwarming, something you wouldn’t typically associate with a multibillion-dollar corporation. However, what makes LEGO’s World Play Day truly special is its potential for the future. Here’s hoping that it will serve as an inspiration for governments everywhere to prioritize and celebrate one of the most crucial aspects of childhood – play.
If that happens, we won’t even need a World Play Day. Everyday, everywhere, will be exactly that.
Mike Walsh, an article contributor at TopMob, refuses to display his World Play Day slam dunk trading card, regardless of how persistent your requests may be. You can keep track of him on Bluesky under the handle @burgermike. Additionally, he is frequently ranked among those who are assessing the Targaryen kings.
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2025-06-13 18:03