Let's play! The 'Let's play festival' Year 3 is back!

Someone once said, “Play” is the work of children. And this saying seems to be like a large flag planted in the hearts of a group of people who call themselves the 'Maikeedfai Group' from Pak Chong, Khao Yai.

The name might sound small, sound light, but their belief has never been flimsy. On the contrary, it is firm and fiery, just as the name suggests. They believe adamantly that if you want children to grow up with quality—not just smart at memorization, but also having stable minds and relationships where they can trust the outside world. Playing... this is the most important key. The key that has disappeared from modern homes filled with rectangular screens and packed school schedules.

Imagine children who are constantly confined within a rectangular frame, and then suddenly someone rips that frame apart, allowing them to run, to jump, to get messy. They get to do what their brains and hearts truly demand.

...And this is the sentiment from the hearts of the staff team, who are ready to be happily exhausted because they get to see children having fun as they should for their age.

"It started from a feeling of frustration... It was like we saw the fire that should be blazing within children about to be extinguished," one member of the Maikekeedfai Group shared, their voice tinged with recollection.

"We work with children in the area and see the problems of family relationships beginning to falter. Parents are tired, children are glued to screens. Everyone is in their own world. So we started by being small 'fire starters,' creating simple play areas near their homes, using leftover natural materials. We let the children experiment, make mistakes, argue, cry, and hug each other. It's a lesson no textbook can provide. We don't teach; we just observe with understanding. And when we do our best, with our pure belief, that sincerity attracts like-minded people."

The story didn't end with just small-scale play in the community. Because the “fire” that was lit didn't just shine in one village. This small power, with its clear stance, aligned with “groups of friends” from many areas who shared the same ideology. They joined hands without ceremony, without signatures on paper, but with the signature of belief in their eyes. This led to the birth of the ‘Play Changes the World’ network, and that, in turn, sparked the festival that children all over the country were waiting for: the 'Let's play festival'.

This festival has been held for the third consecutive year at the Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, in the heart of Bangkok. It lets children take center stage, and parents become quiet observers. The event, which appears to be organized simply, attracts over ten thousand attendees each time! That number, ten thousand people, might sound like a great success, but for the Maikeedfai Group, the 'back-end' team, true success isn't the numbers. It's the "smiles" on the faces of every child who got to “play” to their heart's content.

"On the last day of last year's event, we saw a child run up and hug their father, who was standing watching by the play area. They looked into each other's eyes. The father's eyes were filled with admiration. We went to ask him about it. He said, 'I've never seen my child have this much fun before. I've never seen him be so fully himself.' Hearing that... it really hits you," the same Maikeedfai member's voice paused for a moment, before they let out a soft chuckle, as if trying to cover up being deeply moved.

"We aren't doing anything grandiose. We just create a space for children to be 'human' as they are meant to be. To let them use their energy, to create, to destroy, and to create again. To have a direct conversation with the world, not through any screen. If you ask if it's tiring? It's incredibly tiring! But when we see those moments, it's like lighting a new matchstick in our own hearts. It's an exhaustion that comes with hope... ...Hope that this society won't forget that free play, just ordinary play, is the most worthwhile investment in our children's future and in building stable family relationships."

Come light the fire of play together!

The Let's play festival is waiting for you and your family to come and enjoy. The whole family can enjoy music, storytelling, performances, and a super chill rest corner under the shade of trees. Unlimited fun with activity stations for all ages. Play, laugh, and grow together!

Location: Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park

Date/Time: 21 – 23 November 2025 | 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Admission: Free entry! Throughout the event.

Come on! Join us in building a city that believes “play” is the power of growth. Don't forget to invite friends, family, or anyone who wants to see children's smiles to come along!

Organized by: Play Changes the World Network, in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth). #LetsPlayFestival #FunPlayCity #FreePlay #FreePlay #Chula100Park #ActivitiesForKids

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