As many parents enroll children in an ever-increasing number of sports, enrichment and academic-related activities, health officials say the one thing missing from many kids' schedules these days is some good old-fashioned play.
A report presented at the annual meeting of The American Academy of Pediatrics in Atlanta said free play is essential to both the emotional, physical and intellectual well-being of children. However due hurried lifestyles, pressure on parents to create so-called "super children" on one end of the socioeconomic spectrum and poverty and violence on the other, many children are not being given adequate time for unstructured play. Furthermore, recent educational reforms reducing the amount of time alotted for recess and physical education mean children are getting even less recreational time to balance academic pressure at school.
The results of these changes, the report warned, could include stress, stunted creative and intellectual growth, anxiety, obesity and even depression.
To combat these symptoms, the report urged pediatricians to promote an ample amount of unstructured, child-driven time for play for patients. Specific recommendations include the use of "true toys" such as blocks and dolls which encourage children to use their imaginations, limiting passive entertainment such as television and balancing academics with extracurriculars suited to the interests of the child (rather than college admissions committees).
Above all, the APA's report stated that the most important factors to a child's success remain parental attention, love, role modeling and guidance.
Read more: Report: Kids need more time for play
REPORT: The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds (PDF)
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