Play Time is Important

How often do your kids play? Maybe they have planned out play time after school or maybe you think your kids play around too much.

No matter which one, play time is extremely important for the development and growth of your child. Play is so important in child development that it's been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.

Play time has significantly decreased in recent years. According to research, "A 1989 survey taken by the National Association of Elementary School Principals found that 96 percent of schools had at least one recess period for kids. A decade later, a similar survey found that only 70 percent of kindergarten classes offered even one recess period each day."

Some of this can be related to the heightened importance schools and the government have put on academic subjects like reading and mathematics. The hectic lifestyle many parents face also contributes to the diminishing time kids spend playing.

"Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength," according to the AAP report. It allows children to explore the world, practice adult roles, and gain confidence. And it improves children's social skills as well, by helping them to "learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills."

The key to helping your child reach his potential -- without the added anxiety -- is to find the right balance between work and play. Here are some recommendations from the AAP:

• Give kids ample, unscheduled time to be creative, to reflect, and to decompress
• Encourage your children to engage in active play (running around or playing tag) in lieu of passive entertainment (video games or television)
• Buy your children "true" toys, such as blocks or dolls, that encourage imagination and creativity

Learn more about these recommendations and the benefits of play here.