Minister Avcı who attended the congress at the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Congress and Culture Center said a wise poet had said the future is up to the children and said there is a return to the traditional games culture.

Minister Avcı said “we are so busy pulling our children to our own line and so busy trying to steer them according to our own ideals.  What is right is for us to go along with our children, create new perspectives on childhood by obtaining inspirations from their world. We are unaware that we are actially putting limitations on our children and thus preventing them from achieving something through their rich worlds. We are taking away their toys; we do not leave them spare time and place to play. We are very successful as the Ministry of National Education in this area. We are witnessing that toys

are changing fast, there are less of them and they are changing in quality. About 30 to 40 years ago a branch of a willow three or a tin can could give eternal joy to a child today’s children are forced to play with expensive technological gadgets and are denied the colorful and exciting world of games and toys.”

Minister Avcı pointed out that as the Ministry of National Education they are working to reintroduce traditional Turkish games at schools “we have rearranged or rearranging the school yards. Our provincial education directors are organizing festivals. Our schools are launching competitions. We have a Project called “Come Out and Play” organized by our Basic Education Directorate. I can say we have created awareness on the issue and there is a return to traditional games.”

Bakanlık olarak son yıllarda geleneksel çocuk oyunlarının okullarda daha fazla tanınmasına yer açmak için bir dizi çalışma yaptıklarını anımsatan Bakan Avcı şunları söyledi: “Okul bahçelerimizi yeniden düzenledik, düzenliyoruz. Millî eğitim müdürlüklerimiz geleneksel çocuk oyunları festivalleri düzenliyor. Okullarımız bu alanda kendi içlerinde yarışmaları yapıyorlar. Temel Eğitim Genel Müdürlüğümüzün sürdürdüğü ‘Çık Dışarı Oynayalım Projemiz’ var. Bu alanda bir farkındalık oluştuğunu, geleneksel oyun kültürüne adım adım yeniden dönüş sağladığımızı ifade edebilirim.”

“The real development of human beings is through childhood”

Saying the real development of human beings is through childhood Minister Avcı said “we have to accept childhood as a whole nd we have to build approaches that fit the mental and spiritual world of the children. We are aware that we have to respect the words of the poet who said “decipher a human being, you get a child” and make arrangements accordingly. We have to increase, spread and systematize the steps taken in this field. The fact that we too are very interested in the toys of our children and grandchildren so it is clear that the real development of human beings comes from childhood.”

After the speech Minister Avcı, Governor of Eskişehir Tuna, AK Party Eskişehir Deputy Salih Koca and the Rector of the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Gönen competed in a traditional Turkish game called “Aşık Atma.”

Leaving the congress which will last for four days Minister Avcı then toured the exhibition at the Congress and Culture Center.