Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “A Child’s most serious work is play!”

     

 

Üsküdar University hosts the “International Play Congress”

The “International Play Congress” themed “Play Everywhere and for Everyone” was held at Üsküdar University’s NP Health Campus and Çarşı Campus, hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Child Development.

Emphasizing the vital importance of play for child development and social life, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated, “A child’s most serious work is play. Likewise, the most serious work of adults is being able to do a task with the ease and joy of play. When this is the case, one does not age.”

Istanbul Deputy Elif Esen shared that her family was forced to migrate from Gemlik, Bursa to Istanbul during the Turkish War of Independence and stayed in Red Crescent tents at Haydarpaşa Train Station. “My grandmother used to say that Red Crescent staff played games with them. During wartime, in such traumatic conditions, they played the ‘egg-carrying-in-the-mouth game’ to help children feel the effects of war less,” she said.

The “International Play Congress,” held from June 1–3, 2025, took place at Üsküdar University’s NP Health Campus and Çarşı Campus, hosted by the Department of Child Development, Faculty of Health Sciences.

Opening speeches were delivered by Congress Chair Prof. Nurper Ülküer, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Sweta Shah from the Brookings Institution, and Istanbul Deputy and Chair of the Children’s Movement Advisory Board, Elif Esen.

Tarhan: “We must learn to approach life like a child approaches play”

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan underlined the critical role of play in both child development and societal life: “One of Türkiye’s most pressing needs right now is our perspective on life. In this land of Anatolian wisdom, where Rumi emerged, we must learn to live more peacefully and happily. If we can approach the most serious events with the calm and playful attitude of a child, many of our problems will be much easier to resolve. We would not approach every situation with a war strategy.”

Mentioning how neuroscience supports the benefits of play, Prof. Tarhan said that “If a child grows up experiencing everything through quality play, they develop a sense of ‘flow.’ In positive psychology, this is the state where one loses track of time while engaged in an activity. A child’s most serious work is play. For adults, the most serious work is being able to do a job with the same ease and joy as play. This mindset keeps one young, even helps prevent Alzheimer’s.”

Play has an antidepressant effect!

“When playing, the brain’s reward-related areas are activated. Hormones like dopamine, associated with pleasure, and serotonin, linked to a sense of meaning, are released. If the content of the game is meaningful, it produces not just temporary pleasure but lasting happiness,” Tarhan explained. “Serotonin is an antidepressant. So, we can say play has an antidepressant effect; not only for children but for adults as well. What matters is that the adult experiences that state of ‘flow’ while working,” he added.

Play allows for evaluation of child development

Noting that one of today’s prominent theories in child development is that children learn and develop their autonomic nervous system functioning through play, Prof. Tarhan continued as follows: “During play, children’s development is assessed across different domains. Some tests measure fine motor skills. In child and adolescent psychiatry, the sensory integration profile is often used to evaluate multiple areas such as fine and gross motor skills, language development, social skills, and sensory abilities. All of these skills develop naturally through play.”

Play is also critical for emotional intelligence

Explaining that play is part of values education, Prof. Tarhan said, “While playing, a child learns to invest effort, to be patient and persistent, and to feel a sense of belonging to a group. This helps develop social intelligence. Play also contributes to logical intelligence. During play, children learn sequencing, timing, and cause-effect relationships. During this process, various neural networks in the brain are activated. Play is also critical for emotional intelligence. The anterior cingulate cortex, which is often called the brain’s ‘gearbox’ and responsible for emotional regulation, is activated during play. This region helps regulate the pace of emotions, either slowing them down or speeding them up.”

The most critical period for child development: Ages 4–6

Stressing that play is not merely entertainment but vital for a child’s neurobiological, social, emotional, and cognitive development, Prof. Tarhan continued his remarks as follows: “The most critical period for child development is between the ages of 4 and 6. Instead of overloading theoretical knowledge during this time, it is essential to play, jump, write, and draw with the child. Because at this age, the child learns not just information but also rules, discipline, empathy, and respect for others’ rights through play. Play supports a child’s mental, emotional, and social development. There are rules in play, which teach children to follow rules and set boundaries. Through play, children develop social skills such as empathy, sharing, waiting, and understanding. However, today, many children spend time only with digital games.”

The price is high…

Explaining that digital games hinder child development and may lead to autism-like symptoms referred to as “clip syndrome” in children, Prof. Tarhan said, “Whenever the tablet is taken away and parents start to actively play games with the child, their development accelerates. However, one must not be too late in enabling this transformation. Especially after the age of 4, language development progresses with much more difficulty. After this age, children may develop permanent language disorders. Sometimes parents see the tablet as a kind of ‘cheap babysitter.’ They hand it over, and the child plays quietly for hours. This is convenient for the parent. But the cost is high. The child’s development halts. Let’s not forget, for a child, play is the most serious business.”

“We cannot raise children like greenhouse flowers”

Emphasizing that play is a space where children learn to manage stress by encountering criticism, sadness, and even pain, Prof. Tarhan stated, “We cannot raise children like greenhouse flowers. They need to learn. And this learning happens during play, among peers.” Prof. Tarhan also pointed out that the fast-paced life brought by modernity limits children’s opportunities to go outside and play. As kinship ties weaken, children even struggle to find friends within their own apartment buildings. Therefore, he recommends sending children to preschool at least by age 3. “When children attend preschool, they begin to socialize. Many of their fears are resolved, their needs are met. They begin to learn life itself, and they learn everything,” he said.

Play during the War of Independence

Elif Esen, Istanbul MP and Chair of the Children’s Movement Advisory Board, shared a memory from her grandmother during the Turkish War of Independence. She recounted how her family, forced to migrate from Gemlik, Bursa to Istanbul, stayed in Red Crescent tents at Haydarpaşa Station. Esen said, “My grandmother used to say that Red Crescent workers played games with them. To minimize the traumatic impact of war on children, they had them play games like ‘carrying an egg in their mouth.’” She emphasized that play serves as a means of resilience and solidarity, even in the harshest times.

“Children are greater than politics”

Esen, who worked for children in civil society even before entering politics, said, “My constant hope and concern is to support children so they can remain hopeful and confidently dream of their future.” Explaining the birth of the “Children’s Movement,” of which she is the founder, under the motto “Children are greater than politics,” Esen shared that this civic initiative brings together MPs from different political parties. “In a very short time, 10 MPs from 5 different parties held a press conference in the Grand National Assembly’s press room with the message ‘Children of Gaza must live,’” she said, drawing attention to the movement’s success. She noted that this initiative, built with a nonpartisan perspective, unites NGOs, academics, lawyers, health professionals, educators, and businesspeople from all over Türkiye, and that Prof. Nurper Ülküer has been one of the initiative’s greatest supporters.

Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin: “Play exists throughout life”

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin stated, “Play exists throughout life. Children begin playing in the womb before they’re even born. If they do not play, something is wrong. When they do, we are happy, which it means everything is going well. After birth, they continue playing. As they grow, they keep playing. In fact, it continues until death. Through play, we communicate. Through play, we learn. Through play, we learn teamwork. Through play, we learn to connect with one another. Through play, we become aware of our human values. Life is a game. Play is one of the most important values we should never remove from our lives.”

Prof. Nurper Ülküer: “Play should be integrated into every aspect of life”

Head of the Child Development Department and Chair of the Congress, Prof. Nurper Ülküer stated that play needs to be remembered and integrated into all areas of life, and that one of the main goals of the congress was to support this idea. Referring to the United Nations’ declaration of June 11 as “World Play Day” last year, Prof. Ülküer said, “This decision was an important step in bringing play back into our daily lives. Because play is a universal language that transcends cultures, traditions, and economic issues.” Highlighting that play has been scientifically proven to be a neurobiologically and psychologically developmental, transformative, and soothing tool, Prof. Ülküer emphasized that this congress would explore the scientific dimensions of play in detail.

Parents do not know how to play, but they have forgotten

Prof. Ülküer reminded that June is also recognized as “Parenting Month” and drew attention to the role of parents in children’s lives and play processes. “For years, we’ve told parents, ‘Play with your children.’ But I realized that parents do not know how to play anymore, but they have forgotten. They pretend to play, and children notice. Because we’ve forgotten how to play. We need to bring back playfulness,” she said, stressing the importance of parents actively and genuinely participating in the play process. Prof. Ülküer also emphasized the soothing and rehabilitative power of play during crises, disasters, and after earthquakes, saying, “Play is a right, not just for children, but also for adults.”

Sweta Shah: “Play can help people develop many skills without realizing it”

Sweta Shah of the American think tank Brookings Institution expressed her excitement about participating in the congress, saying, “I hope some of the research shared today will help you think about what the next step should be for Istanbul, for Türkiye, for the country.” Highlighting Brookings Institution’s belief in the power of play for everyone, everywhere, Shah said, “Play can help people develop many skills without even realizing it, because it’s so fun and joyful. People do not think they’re learning while playing. But research shows that when play is integrated into daily experiences, such as markets, shops, streets, and classroom discussions, and it gradually and continuously develops not only the brains of young children but also of adults. Because our brains, although they slow down, continue to grow.”

Following the opening, child and adolescent psychotherapist Dr. Joanna Fortune gave a talk titled “Why We Play?”

The congress lasted three days

During the three-day congress, many leading local and international academics and experts shared valuable knowledge and experiences as panelists, moderators, and workshop facilitators.

Topics addressed included intergenerational play; play and creativity; nature play; digital games; play during early childhood (infancy, preschool, and early primary years); school-age and adolescent play; parenting and play (playful parents, playful personalities); adulthood and play; and elderly play (playful grandparents).

A wide variety of rich and diverse workshops were offered to participants throughout the congress.

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)