By Michaela Gordoni
It’s a fact: playtime is healthier than screen time.
Play improves creativity, physical and mental health and social and emotional skills, the Times of India reported.
In a study that examined behavioral issues among 1,897 preschoolers in China, those who had over 60 minutes of daily screen time had more behavioral problems.
Another study in the International Journal of Multi Discipline Science found that excessive screen time results in decreased social interactions and attention span issues. It found that playtime built social and emotional development.
Play helps kids to use their imagination and creativity to engage and solve problems and build relationships.
Related: Family Time Away from Tech Should Be Our Priority — Here’s Why
Physical movement between the ages of 5 and 17 is found to help build better memory, improve mood and create sharper thinking.
Sheena Sood, Consultant – Psychology and Counsellor at P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai, said, “When a family engages in play, the amount of fun and engagement that it can bring can beat any screen-related fun. It’s suggested that play be at least a good 45-60 minutes as it includes physical exercise, bonding, sportsmanship spirit and great skill development.”
Dr. Rahul Chandhok, Senior Consultant and Head of Psychiatry at Artemis Lite in New Delhi, said, “Playing is better for kids than sitting in front of a screen because it helps them stay healthy, feel better and make friends. Making play a regular part of children’s lives is the first step to raising kids who are healthy, happy, and sure of themselves.”
The United Nations considers play vital to a child’s development and its human rights commission recognizes the right to play for every human child.
“Engaging fully with your child in play offers a wonderful opportunity to build your child’s self-esteem,” said Utah State University Family Development assistant professor Christina Pay. “Imagine how your child must feel, knowing that the most important person in their world likes them enough to take the time to play with them. Additionally, research shows when you allow the play to be child-directed, children benefit in a multitude of ways.”
“They can move at their own pace, practice decision-making skills, and discover what their own areas of interest are,” she continued. “Research also tells us that child-directed play improves a child’s self-control, the way they handle their feelings, and how they feel about themselves.”
And play isn’t just good for kids. It’s actually good for adults and the whole family, too.
“Play for adults is absolutely necessary if you are going to have a feeling of optimism for the future and sustain mood elevation for a challenging and demanding life,” said psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown, founder and president of the National Institute for Play and author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.
He added that, like sleep deprivation, play deprivation can have long-term negative outcomes.
“I’ve studied play in depth for years, and I think it should be understood as a necessary public health mandate for kids and adults,” Brown said. “It is in our nature, preserved through evolution over time, and has a lot to do with our social survival as a species.”
So next time you have some time to be with your family, consider playing — having a pillow fight, a backyard water gun fight or a pretend tea party — anything that gets you all having fun together without a screen.
Read Next: HGTV Star Is ‘More Intentional’ About Family Time as Kids Grow Up
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +1Share:
– Content: +1