LET'S PLAY

ROMANIA

TÜRKİYE

GREECE

JORDAN

LITHUANIA

PORTUGAL

Are games just about fun? No! Games are a part of life. While we get lost in the worlds we dreamed of as children, as we grow up we turn into players who develop strategies. Games are not just for passing the time; they are also a perfect tool for learning, socializing, and enhancing imagination. Play is one of the most effective ways of learning. Games help humans think, develop strategies, and boost imagination.

    “Games are the most serious work of children.” – Montaigne
 “Play is the most enjoyable form of intelligence.” – Albert Einstein

Contributors:

*DANIELA COVOR                         *FATMA TOSUN

*MERYEM İNANÇ                          *EIRINI DOUMA

*SONATA  JONAUSKIENE           * NURHAN ABAK

*AYPERİ ALTINÖZ                          * ALEXANDROS MOKİAS

*CANSER KUŞAT LAMPİR             * ADRIANA POPA

* RALUCA MANUELA MİRCEA

*ÖMER                                                      *IULIANA COTITU

*MARİA DO ROSARIO SANTOS

*KÜBRA AKKAŞ ÇAKIR            

*KERİME KUZU                        

*SÜMEYRA ÜNLÜ                                *NOUR ALNAWARSEH

MERYEM İNANÇ/ÖZKAN HALAÇ SPECIAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL SCHOOL/TÜRKİYE

LET'S PLAY

MERYEM İNANÇ/ÖZKAN HALAÇ SPECIAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL SCHOOL/TÜRKİYE

    One morning, a child woke up and felt that something was a little different. The teddy bear on the bed seemed to be smiling more than usual, and the books on the shelf sounded as if they were whispering to one another. A soft tapping noise came from the small potted plant by the window.

    The child got out of bed and noticed a colorful button on the floor. It didn’t belong there. A tiny star was drawn on it, and it glowed softly. Just then, the bedroom door slowly opened… but it wasn’t an adult who entered.

    At that moment, the child understood: today was going to be a very special day.

DANIELA COVOR - Technological High School No. 1 Fundulea, Călărași, Romania

… And the threshold was crossed by a ray of light, then the light became a small character, the size of the palm, dressed in a garment woven from sparks. 

"Good morning," he said in a voice that resembled the sound of bells. I think your button has fallen.

And he pointed to the colored disc on the floor.

The button moved on its own, as if it had flinched when mentioned, and let out a crystalline "ting!" The teddy bear blinked softly, and the pages of the books rustled like leaves. A brave green thread emerged from the pot, bending to look at the scene as well.

The child swallowed dryly, curiously, but without fear.

"What's going on?" he whispered.

"Today, things that are usually silent are allowed to say what is on their hearts," replied the little visitor. And this button is not just a button. It's an invitation. If you press it, you will see what only very brave mornings can show.

 AYPERİ ALTINÖZ 

TOBB Primary School Antakya/HATAY 

...The child was captivated by the little visitor's words. His heart began to beat rapidly. He couldn't take his eyes off the colorful button on the floor. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and reached out to touch the button. The light emanating from the button illuminated the entire room. It was as if tiny stars had gathered together. The room was so bright that the child closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he realized he was in a different place than his room. Slowly. He was in a place where colorful butterflies floated above purple clouds. The sky shimmered with golden and pink hues, and in the distance was a huge, crystal-clear castle. The little visitor was beside him, and now he shone even brighter. He smiled at the child and said, "Welcome to the land of brave mornings."

AYPERİ ALTINÖZ       TOBB Primary School Antakya/HATAY 

CANSER KUŞAT LANPIR ÖZKAN HALAÇ 

SPECIAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

Lisa saw some signs on the path leading to the castle above the clouds. Her sweet friend asked, "Do you know how to play hopscotch?" Lisa remembered the game she played with her friends in the street and said yes, she did. Playing hopscotch with her friend, they went towards the castle. When the castle gates opened, they were met by many children playing. The garden was colorful, full of flowers, and very beautiful. Together, they continued hopscotch towards the castle. With each step, the clouds bounced softly, and the path sparkled brightly. When the castle gates opened, they were met by many children playing. The children's laughter filled the garden. Lisa felt that this was a special place where games never ended and dreams came true. From that day on, hopscotch became not just a game for Lisa, but a magical path leading to happiness.

   EIRINI DOUMA, 2nd Primary School of Melissia, Athens, GREECE

 As Lisa jumped lightly from cloud to cloud, her heart was full of joy. Suddenly, in the middle of her laughter, she remembered her dear friend Andrew. She remembered his bright smile, his kindness, and the wheelchair he used every day. Lisa paused for a moment and wondered sadly how Andrew would feel, knowing he could not play hopscotch the way they were playing now.

    Sensing her thoughts, the clouds shimmered gently, and one of the children in the garden came closer. “In this castle,” the child said softly, “everyone can play.” The path began to change, forming colorful symbols, wheels, stars, and handprints. A new game was born, where jumping was not needed. Instead, children rolled, clapped, spun, and moved together, guided by music and laughter. 

    Lisa imagined Andrew there with her, moving freely, racing the wind, and laughing louder than ever. She felt happy knowing that magic could make space for everyone. The garden sparkled even more brightly, as if it celebrated their idea. Lisa realized that the most magical games were the ones where no one was left out, and where friendship made every path possible. 

    From that moment on, Lisa knew that joy grew bigger when it was shared, and that true magic was finding ways for everyone to play together.

When the garden fell silent, the little light appeared beside Lisa once more, gently settling into her palm like a warm, vibrant star. With a soft smile, she asked if she could sense how the place came alive every time the children played together. Just then, a quiet ding-ding echoed from the castle, and a golden ball rolled out from the great gates. As if it had chosen her, it stopped right in front of Lisa. 

The little light explained that it was the Friendship Ball, and that it could only roll when everyone truly wanted to play together. The children sat in a circle, each participating in their own way: some clapped their hands, some spun around, and some gently pushed the ball forward. The ball rolled from one child to another, sparkling and laughing, spreading joy all around. 

Lisa closed her eyes and whispered that she wished Andrius were there too. The ball shone even brighter, and suddenly Andrius appeared beside her, a wide smile, his eyes sparkling with happiness. His wheelchair transformed into a bright, colorful wheel playing cheerful music. Andrius laughed and invited everyone to play.

And so they played together. They rolled, clapped, laughed, and moved as one. The sky and earth above them shone with joy. After a while, the light slowly began to fade, and Lisa felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. 

She opened her eyes and found herself in her own room. The colorful button lay on the floor; it was calm but warm. The teddy bear on her bed was silent again, but it seemed to be smiling. Lisa smiled too and said to herself, "Now I know, games are for everyone." From that day on, whenever she played with others, she always remembered that a real game begins when everyone plays.

Sonata Jonauskienė,  Kaunas Anaokulu "Pelėdžiukas"  LİTVANYA 

Sonata Jonauskienė, 

Kaunas Kindergarten "Pelėdžiukas" 

LITHUANIA 

Alexandros Mokias_5th Grade_1st Primary School of Echinae_Raches, Greece

A few days after their adventures, Lisa found a golden thread in her pocket that led her to Andreas. When the thread touched the grey cement of the courtyard, the ground transformed into soft grass, carrying the magic of the crystal castle into their world.

The two friends began their "Echo Game," where every sound they made became a bubble of light. Andreas created musical vibrations with his wheelchair, their sounds merging into a swirling dance of color that only they could see.

Soon, all the children in the courtyard joined in, adding their own melodies and rhythms. The golden thread expanded to embrace everyone, transforming Andreas into the Master of Colors and the grey courtyard into a blossoming garden of friendship.

As the sun set, Lisa realized the magical castle wasn't a distant place, but a way of looking out at the world. Real magic no longer required golden buttons; it only needed an open embrace and a willingness to play together!

Alexandros Mokias_5th Grade_1st Primary School of Echinae_Raches, Greece

Fatma TOSUN Atatürk Primary School Kırıkhan/HATAY/TÜRKİYE

The golden thread trembled slightly in Lisa's hand. The courtyard was still grey, but it was no longer silent. The sound of children's footsteps, laughter, and whispers filled the air. When Lisa released the thread, it stretched out like a path.

"This could be a playground," Lisa said.

Andreas slowly turned the wheels of his wheelchair. The spinning sound echoed "whoosh." The moment it touched the ground, it transformed into a small ball of light. The ball of light bounced forward.Lisa clapped. Andreas changed the rhythm. The balls of light multiplied. Parts of the courtyard were still grey, but in others, colors began to flicker.

A child approached the thread and tapped it on the ground. *Crack!* Another child jumped. *Splat!* Each movement meant a new light, a new color.

Soon, the courtyard transformed into a playground. Some played with sounds, others with rhythm. No one knew the rules of the game, but everyone was in it.

Suddenly, the golden thread split into two paths. One path was silent. The other was filled with lights. The children stopped. Everyone looked at each other.

"Which one is the continuation of the game?" someone asked.

Lisa looked at the thread. Andreas smiled. There was no answer. Because in this game, choosing the path was the game itself.

Just then, the thread moved again…

   Fatma TOSUN Atatürk İlköğretim Okulu Kırıkhan/HATAY TÜRKİYE

KÜBRA ÇAKIR - ÇERKEZKÖY IMAM HATIP SECONDARY SCHOOL

This time, the thread lifted Andrew and Lisa above the clouds. The laughter of children playing on the clouds made them tremble. There, children built castles out of the clouds and played hide-and-seek, hiding behind them. Andrew noticed something. In this dream city, his feet were on solid ground. Andrew ran freely. He was truly in a dream. They played hide-and-seek to their heart's content.

Then, the golden thread teleported them to a different realm. In this realm, there were mythical animals and unicorns, which Lisa adored. Children were racing each other on the unicorns. Lisa was captivated by the unicorns' colorful manes. Lisa and Andrew eagerly awaited the chance to ride the unicorns. Two unicorns approached them and bent down for them to mount. Lisa helped Andrew onto a unicorn and then climbed on herself. They raced each other and had a lot of fun.

The thread started moving again…

KÜBRA ÇAKIR - ÇERKEZKÖY IMAM HATIP SECONDARY SCHOOL 

Lisa squeezed the star in her palm, and suddenly the garden floor filled with light. A colorful circle appeared on the ground—very different from hopscotch. Inside it were musical notes, flowers, stars, and handprints. Each symbol represented a different talent, a different heart.

Andrew slowly moved forward in his wheelchair. When his wheels rolled over a bright musical note, a soft melody spread through the air. Another child stepped on a star, and tiny sparks began to dance across the sky. When a clapping child touched the flower symbol, glowing rings of light expanded across the ground. Lisa placed the rainbow button in her hand right at the center of the circle. At that moment, the game changed. Jumping was no longer necessary. Running was not required. Some children kept rhythm with their hands, some spun around, and some drew patterns with their wheels. Every movement added a new color; Every laugh added a new light. Golden letters appeared in the sky: “The most beautiful game is the one where everyone leaves a mark.” Lisa looked at Andrew. His face was shining. As the wind gently moved his hair, his wheels turned freely within the rainbow pattern. No one was left behind. No one stood at the edge. Just then, an empty section at the edge of the circle began to glow. It had no symbol on it yet. It seemed to be waiting for someone.

The little being of light whispered: "Everyone who arrives leaves their own sign in this game. Now it is time for a new mark." The doors in the sky slowly opened once more. Light streamed inside…

And the empty symbol waited for its very first touch.

The games in the garden continued for a while longer. Lisa played hopscotch. Andrew held the rope and kept the rhythm for his friends. In the handkerchief game, everyone ran around laughing. In the five stones game, small stones flew through the air.

After a while, the children got tired. They sat down on a soft cloud. They were out of breath but very happy. Lisa looked up at the sky. “I used to think games were just about jumping around,” she said. Andrew nodded. “Sometimes I had to stay on the sidelines,” he said quietly. Lisa turned to him. “Today, no one was on the sidelines.” The child next to them spoke up: “Because we changed the game together.” Another child added:  “We made the rules together.” Andrew thought for a moment. “So a game isn't just about rules,” he said. “It's also about friendship.” Lisa smiled. “And a little bit about sharing.” The little light being came over to them. This time it was calmer. “Games,” it said in a gentle voice, “bring people closer together. Sometimes through games we say things we can't say out loud. Sometimes we find our courage in a game.” Lisa asked curiously:

 Ömer ÜSTÜN

   Atatürk İlkokulu

                    TÜRKİYE/Hatay

““So, what's the best game?” asked the light being with a smile. “The best game is the one where everyone feels happy and included.” The children were silent for a moment. Then Andrew raised his hand. “Should we make up our own game tomorrow?” he said. “It could involve running, rolling, singing, and stones...” Lisa got excited. “And everyone should have a role!” The other children also stood up and began sharing new ideas. Just then, an empty space appeared in the middle of the garden. There were no drawn lines or placed stones; just an open area, as if inviting them to begin. Lisa looked at Andrew. “This time, we'll design the game ourselves,” she said. The clouds glowed softly. And the children began to think about the first rule of their own game...

                                            Ömer ÜSTÜN

                                    Atatürk İlkokulu

                                            TÜRKİYE/Hatay

RALUCA MIRCEA, "Nicolae Russu" Secondary School, Sita Buzăului, Covasna, Romania

  “I found it!” Lisa shouted, her voice echoing through the cloud castles. “The first rule is the Spirit Mirror Rule: no player can take a step forward or turn around until they are sure the person on their left is smiling.”

The effect was immediate. If a child tried to run too fast, their feet became light as cotton, and they stopped where they were until they turned back to help their slower friend. If someone felt insecure, the others stopped playing and began singing a happy song, and the light in the sad one's heart was rekindled.

The moment they spoke these words, the empty space in the middle of the garden began to fill with self-playing musical instruments and colors that took shape according to the rhythm of their hearts. Their games were no longer about who could reach the castle first, but about how long and bright the path they built together could be.

The second rule was this...

The ground turned into a smoky mirror, and the shifting cool light rose into walls, forming an intricate labyrinth. “This is the Echo Game,” the shimmering visitor announced. “It is played with heart and focus.”

A toy bear sat at the entrance, its button eyes gleaming with intelligence. The rules were magical: the child would describe a path beyond their own sight, the glowing guides would turn those words into musical notes, and the bear would follow the sound.

“Left, toward the window!” the child called out.

The tiny guide produced a harp‑like tone, and the bear leapt gracefully. They worked in perfect harmony; the child learned to trust their voice, the bear learned to listen, and the guide transformed their effort into music.

When they reached the center, a small, glowing box appeared. “Every game that ends leaves behind a piece of wisdom,” the visitor whispered. As the labyrinth shifted away, the room returned to normal, but the bond between the three friends felt stronger than ever.

And that box, that sparkling box, opened. A small card written in light slipped out. The following sentence was written on the card: “Listening hearts find the right path.” When the language card was taken into his palm, the words turned into tiny birds and flew up into the sky. One of the birds landed on a child's shoulder and whispered a short melody. Andrew's eyes closed. “My melody is soft,” he said. “Like the wind protected while rolling.” The shy child walked. “Mine is like the sound of a pen,” he said. “Moving line by line.” Lisa heard the rhythm of her heart. “My melody is like laughter,” she said. The small light being nodded. “Now you are ready for the third rule.” The ground in the middle of the garden glowed again. This time a large circle formed on the ground. The circle had small empty holes. “This is the sharing circle,” said the light being. "Here is a list of games everyone has.

Sümeyra ÜNLÜ

  Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu

       Zonguldak/Türkiye

                        Sümeyra ÜNLÜ

                      Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu

                           Zonguldak/Türkiye

 But it doesn't have to be an object. It could be an idea, a feeling, a song, a memory.“ Andrew took a small bell out of his pocket. ”I'll provide the rhythm,“ he said. The shy child tore a page from his notebook. He drew a tiny star on it. ”I'll draw the paths," he said. Lisa thought, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath:

Nurhan ABAK 

ŞIRNAK / ULUDERE ATATÜRK PRİMARY

SCHOOL 

TÜRKİYE

Lisa stepped into the empty garden space. Andrew rolled closer and tapped the ground. Tap.

“First rule,” Lisa said, “everyone chooses how they move.”

Some jumped, some rolled, some clapped and sang.

“Second rule,” Andrew added, “if someone feels left out, we change the game.”

A shining circle appeared with stars, wheels, and hands. Singing made a tree of light grow, jokes made a bright sun appear. Soon, the circle glowed with colors.

“The best games are created,” said the little light.

Everything faded. Lisa blinked. She was back in the school courtyard. Andrew tapped the ground again. Tap.

Lisa clapped. A child laughed.

The grey courtyard didn’t feel grey anymore.

The game had already begun.

IULIANA COTITU," ANGHEL SALIGNY" HIGH SCHOOL,                                         CERNAVODA, ROMANIA

aaaaand we had a beautiful journey in our story.. As the LET'S PLAY team, we give our story as a gift to our children and to those who have a childlike spirit..

Endless love to my teachers who contributed to the book