The Role of Play in Development
Psychologists agree that play is essential to a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development. But today’s children have less time and freedom to play. Where are we going wrong?
Most parents today can remember childhood activities like kicking a ball around, climbing a tree, frolicking in the park and making tree forts with friends. But these same parents are restricting their own children’s activities, both out of love, and out of fear.
Today schedules are busier, academic expectations are more stringent, and break is being replaced more and more with seat-based activities. Kids don’t have the same opportunities to relax and play, explore the world on their own, or just be kids. Psychologists don’t think this is healthy for rational, emotional or social development. Furthermore, kids are being restricted physically in terms of how far away from home they’re allowed to venture on their own. In a recent survey for the Children’s Society, 43% of respondents said children should not be allowed out with friends until they’re 14. In 1970, 80% of primary school children made their way to school on their own. Today that figure is less than 9%. Yet the risks of abduction or being involved in a traffic accident are tiny.
Are we being paranoid, or just isolationist?
It is widely accepted that play and freedom are important to long-term development. Play with low-specificity toys such as blocks and soft toys builds imagination, interaction and creativity. Even infants can benefit.
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For example Manhattan Toy’s popular character Whoozit blends science and whimsy to offer tactile, visual and even aural stimulation to young babies. Author Doris Fromberg of ‘Play – A Beginnings Workshop Book’ reports ‘Cognitive development takes place during pretend play. When teachers or parents have intervened by playfully modelling, providing varied props, and raising play-related questions, young children have become more flexible planners, used more expanded language and sustained play for longer periods of time. Researchers have found a relationship between enriched adult play intervention and children’s academic skills as well as IQ with an improvement in systematic and processed-oriented problem solving.’ |
Experts also agree it’s important to let children have the freedom to play independently and make friends. Being isolated from other children can lead to serious problems like depression, aggression and anti-social behaviour. In fact there is real concern that today’s over-protected children are having their development hampered and are more likely to be risk-averse and stifled by fears that are more phobic than real. And lack of supervised play can lead to a reduction in the opportunity to form deep friendships, another frightening trend in Britain. Today’s teenagers report having far fewer ‘best’ friends than they did 20 years ago. This could help explain the fact that according to a Unicef report, Britain ranks at the bottom of the international tables for peer relationships. By restricting our children, are we fuelling the fire? Professor Judith Dunn from the Institute of Psychiatry says ‘Children whose early friendships are full of shared imaginative play develop a sensibility by discussing moral dilemmas and learning to understand the feelings, welfare and relationships of other children.’
While much of the shift away from unstructured play opportunities is the responsibility of schools and teachers, some of the factors are under parents’ control. Here are some recommendations from the AAP:
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Be sure your child has unstructured, low-specificity toys like blocks and dolls which stimulate creativity, rather than objects that require more passive participation.
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Make sure your child has a schedule which balances academic and play-based activities that is right for him or her. Don’t assume that what other parents are doing is right for your child.
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Be wary of claims for toys or products that produce ‘super children.’
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Understand that your child doesn’t need to excel at everything to lead a successful life.
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Offer your child the opportunity to be with friends and encourage them to invent their own games.