There are times I miss being a kid. Whenever I’m bogged down by responsibilities, I recall those childhood days filled with playing pretend, swinging and running around with friends — and then I smile. Life as a kid was exciting and fun, not to mention years of unstructured play helps children develop problem-solving capabilities, learn resilience and enhance social skills. Unfortunately, many children today aren’t experiencing enough play to gain these skills. A variety of factors, including less recess time and increased media sessions, are drastically reducing kids’ playtime. Here’s why we need to bring it back.

The importance of playtime

Play is a form of learning, one that puts the kids in control to make decisions and grow their creative abilities. Oftentimes in school and even in after-school activities, children are taught to follow instructions and “play by the rules.” In unstructured play, children are given an opportunity to realize their own potential and find new ways of achieving a goal, rather than always depending on others for answers.

Why kids today aren’t playing

An article featured in Pathways titled “Importance of play in children’s development” lists these interesting statistics regarding children and play:

  • 30 percent of American kindergarteners do not have recess due to an increase in academic-focused activities.
  • 71 percent of children and teenagers have a TV in their bedroom, making it easier for kids to replace playtime with media.
  • 94 percent of parents stated that safety concerns impact where they allow their kids to play.
  • 80 percent of homes are more than a half-mile away from the nearest local park.

What you can do to help

As a parent, you might not have much control over whether kids get to attend recess during the day. You can still make a difference at home, though, by limiting media time and structured after-school activities. Make room in your children’s schedule for playtime, and plan a park day each week. If you have a backyard, invite your kids’ friends over and encourage them to spend a few hours outdoors near the house. When kids are young, a few toys, friends and their crazy imaginations are all they need to have a blast outside.

 

Schedule an appointment with Learning Lab Chicago today to learn more about our services!