She shared her creation with me, complete with a classroom, cafeteria, gym, nurse's station and even a teacher's lounge. When I told her I was proud of her, she gave me a funny look and said, "Why?" I was, of course, thankful that she was entertaining herself for so long. But I've also read headlines about how important play is for kids. So I replied, "Doctors say that play is good for you."
And I didn't know. Thus the idea for my next post was born.
According to several sources, including the Alliance for Childhood and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), play has many benefits:
- Enhanced physical development
- Increased academic performance
- Social and emotional learning
- Successful medical treatment and emotional healing
- Improved confidence, leadership skills and decision-making ability
Good, solid playtime is often threatened by too much "screen time." According to the AAP:
Most pediatricians also warn against entertainment that fails to stimulate interaction or thought — especially television shows and computer games. “These tools and programs are heavily marketed, and many parents have unfortunately grown to believe that they are a requirement of good parenting and a necessity for appropriate development,” says Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.And the Alliance for Childhood points out that:
Computers have an important role in contemporary life, but in childhood we recommend first things first: real relationships with people and nature, real hands-on activities, and lots of time for child-initiated play and artistic activities.Both organizations make suggestions to help increase playtime for your kids, and the tips always include reducing screen time. Other tips:
- Choose simple toys. Toys that require imagination are great.
- Encourage outdoor adventures.
- Give your child a chore, i.e. cooking, raking, cleaning. These activities can inspire play. "Children like to help for short periods and then engage in their own play." (Alliance for Childhood's Play Fact Sheet)
- Schedule time for play.
I didn't intend to, but allowing my daughter the freedom to play last night was a good move. I'm glad I didn't intervene.