power play
Why Children Need Time for
Stress-Free Fun
Parenting these days can seem like a nonstop chauffeur service: driving the kids to piano practice, soccer practice, ballet class and art class. For many American families, life is hurried and overscheduled for children and parents alike.
When you start seriously thinking that your 6-year-old could use a Blackberry, it may be time to sit down, take a deep breath and consider a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In it, child-health experts offer a ringing endorsement of something many families aren’t getting much of: playtime.
The meaning of playtime.
Playtime means unscheduled time in which children can just, well, play. Playing with others — peers or parents — is how children learn to explore the world, experiment with rules, cooperate and problem-solve. Play encourages children to exercise, helps them adjust more easily to school, enhances their ability to learn, and teaches them vital social and emotional skills.Help your children get balanced.
“But they can’t just play their way into Harvard, can they?” True. That’s why experts say this is the key: a balance of school, structured activities and unstructured playtime. If you think your children need better balance in their lives, these tips may help:- Limit children to two extracurricular activities — ones that they really enjoy.
- Guard family time as precious. Make family nights a priority over other activities.
- Value — and model — downtime. If your children see you enjoying walks in the park or daydreaming in a swing, they’ll be more likely to do so, too.
