In the current Covid 19 pandemic, children have been forced to spend their time at home as the schools are closed and other activities such as swimming pools, play time in the playground, parks, social gatherings and events have also come to a halt. Closure of schools has stretched to more than one year and in the current situation there is no hope of children returning to their normal routine in this academic year as well.

With the government restrictions and lockdown in effect, its consequences on the mental health of children have come into light!  Dr. Wagner who is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas has researched on effects of pandemic on the mental health of children. Her research as well as various other researches have demonstrated that Covid 19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of the children and adolescents and that depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders are on rise among them. At the same time another research has laid emphasis on PLAY during lock down. It is important for the children to build cognitive skills and at the same time find an emotional and physical outlet for what they have been experiencing in these difficult times.

In this situation where children are forced to remain indoors and unable to meet and interact with their friends, toys have become a crucial resource to help the children cope, learn and have fun while remaining at home. Toys need to be treated as an essential commodity of children as they have similar relevance for a child as a book. They are correctly considered as educational tools teaching children principles of science and enhancing their cognitive skills and building their self-esteem. Different kinds of pretend & play toys, building toys, board games, activity games engage children, entertain them and create aspirations among children thus diverting their mind from the current pandemic and the negativity around it.

Furthermore, with the parents engrossed in their ‘Work from Home’ schedules, children are feeling neglected and bored, particularly in nuclear families. Parents are also unable to spend quality time with the children due to excessive pressures on work and home fronts.

Therefore it has become utmost important to open the toy shops with all the precautionary measures and time bound restrictions as may be deem fit. With toys available to children easily, it will help them to stay indoors and utilize the valuable time playing with games and toys which will ultimately also be mentally enhancing for them.

On behalf of all the toy manufacturers and traders in India, we request Government of India to add the toy shops in essential category and allow the opening of toy shops within the time framework as you may consider appropriate.

Please sign our petition and join us in our goal to classify TOYS AS AN ESSENTIAL COMMODITY. This small step from each of you will help in bringing joy and hope to our children in these difficult and stressful times.