Last winter, I was able to travel to my early childhood town. It was a wonderful experience, especially since it had been over 2 decades since my last visit.
Being there brought back memories of exploring the woods across from my street and creating magical worlds. Seat-riding a skateboard with my big sister down an impossibly steep hill, screaming in fear and exhilaration. Spending hours outside while using ‘dusk’ as my alarm clock to get home. My shoes were filthy and my pockets were often filled with little treasure I had found in nature.
Play wasn’t something that involved a coach or that only happened on weekends. To get messy and allow my mind to run wild was as much a part of living as breathing or eating.
“Imagination will take you everywhere.” -Albert Einstein
Times Have Changed
For many, this was the norm of childhood. But somewhere in the early 2000’s, something shifted in our society. Our country experienced a terrible tragedy and gone were the days of carefree and wild.
Safety and security took top priority in our communities. Parents hovered a little closer over their kids, holding them tight. A new norm started emerging that pulled kids indoors and replaced basketballs with video controllers.
At the same time, our education system shifted toward an increased emphasis on standardized tests and innovative technology. Tablets and smartphones emerged and dress up corners were pulled out of classrooms. The sacred time for open-ended, imaginative play has been societally dwindling.
As a mother, I get it. We’re up against a strong current that pulls our kids toward screens and away from nature. As we see trends in our developing youth of rising mental health issues, behavioral problems and obesity and a decline in problem-solving and resiliency skills, I believe we are seeing some of the consequences of reduced play.
The world is a different place than it was when we were children, but the needs of children have not changed.
Why Kids Need Play
Play is the natural language of children. Children learn about their world through exploration and play. Without this essential outlet, we can see symptoms in our kids like behavioral issues, lack of focus and trouble handling stress. There are so many reasons for play…
- Healthy Emotions– Play helps children to gain healthy emotional development. It allows them to express their conscious and unconscious experiences about their feelings and the world around them. Where there may not be a developed vocabulary to express some experiences, play can help to sort things out. Without play, kids tend to act out those emotions in negative ways.
- Healthy Brains– Play promotes the healthy development of a child’s brain. It strengthens neural connections that would otherwise disappear or weaken if not used. Play is also one of the most powerful ways for a child to quickly learn life lessons and academic concepts.
- Strong Students- Studies show that when children are allowed open-ended play- that is play without being told what to do- they become more focused, have improved academic skills and have greater attention spans. Creative play is also connected with better writing and storytelling skills.
- Strong Relationships– Family life can be stressful and handling the daily demands of life or correcting behaviors can cause relationship problems in the home. Play is one of the best ways of building strong family relationships and also a great preventative or low-intensity way of dealing with difficult behavior. Furthermore, through play, children learn valuable social skills like communication, cooperation, and flexibility.
Simply put, a playful child is a sign of a healthy child and is essential to the strong development of our children.
What You Can Do
- Place limits on screen time. For children ages 2-5, the current recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to allow no more than 1 hour of quality media/screen time per day. Ages 6 and older, it’s recommended to place consistent limits. Designate media-free time in the home and use parental controls and screen time software to help place limits.
- Let your kids know it’s okay to get wet, messy and dirty! We learn best through sensory experiences, which is why play is so powerful. Making a mess helps children to learn cause and effect, problem-solving skills and so many more life skills. Encourage outdoor play, give them balls, sidewalk chalk, buckets, scraps of craft items, fingerpaint, let them play with food, and simply allow for them to get creative.
- Make it a family thing. Play isn’t just good for kids. Adults need playfulness in their lives too for a healthy and well-balanced life. The best way to teach your values is to live your values. Practice a hobby, jump in and play with your kids, laugh and take a break from the chores every now and then! Your kids are watching and learning.
- Support a playful community. The Playful Child Foundation is a Georgetown-based non-profit built upon the mission to promote healthier kids mentally and physically through play. It’s also a legacy in honor of a child in our community, Kade Damian, led by his mother Julie Damian. I’m fortunate to serve as one if it’s board members. Show support for organizations that encourage the value of play in your community.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a type of counseling that uses play as a means of helping children express or communicate their feelings.
Our office offers counseling catered to families from childhood through adulthood. We have several Registered Play Therapists, with specialized training in using play as a means of therapy with children as young as 3 years old. You can learn about each of our counselors HERE.
Play is so powerful that it can be used to help people process trauma, understand very difficult concepts and express big emotions in a healthy way.
Wishing you and your family much joy and playfulness.
Jenna
Jenna Fleming, LPC, NCC, is passionate about empowering a loving, healthy community. She is owner and counselor at Georgetown Child & Family Counseling, where it is their mission to help people reconnect with what’s important and to help children and families thrive.
