Go Play: The Importance of Play for All Ages (even adults)

As I sit watching my son and his friend at a trampoline park play, I can't help but to think that this is no longer the norm (free and unstructured play that is...well, not free). As a Gen Xer I often find myself lamenting over the slow decline of "hanging out." Research has shown that unstructured play has been on the decline for the past fifty years. There are multiple factors causing this steady recession including increased academic demands, technological advancements (online gaming, streaming videos and social media) and helicopter or hovering parenting styles. Fortunately, most infants and toddlers are given plenty of opportunities to play in daycare or preschool but as children enter into elementary and middle school, free play often has to be coordinated like it's a formal event.

Many adults think that children are just busier on things whose importance is greater than that of play; however, scientists have learned that free play isn’t just something children like to do—it’s something they need to do. Play keeps kids physically active, all the more important at a time when some 20% of American children are obese—more than triple the percentage from the more play-friendly 1970s. (Early activity habits matter—a 2005 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that the most active 9-to-18-year-olds remained the most active later in life.) It also exercises their minds and their creativity. More than anything else, play teaches children how to work together and, at the same time, how to be alone. It teaches them how to be human. https://time.com/4928925/secret-power-play/

In order for a paradigm shift in your children's lives, it will take effort. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that play becomes a daily habit:

1. Facilitate: While children are often on their devices and do communicate with each other, not all do so with the purpose of getting together. You will likely have to get in touch with the other parents to coordinate times the kids can hang out. You might also have to go out of your way a little acting as the chauffeur or ATM machine but it will always be worth it in the long run.
2. Build Relationships with Other Parents: Many parents are convinced that if their children leave the house, they will get kidnapped, raped, hurt, abused or killed. Parents have told me for years that they trust their children, they just don't trust anyone else. So get them to trust you. Get to know the parents well enough when your children are young so when they grow older and want to have sleepovers or bike back and forth from each others' houses, the parents feel safe.
3. Set Play Times: This can be applied to all ages by setting limits in technology and time in their room. Once children enter middle school, they seem to be drawn to their rooms like a teenage girl to Sephora. Start the routines early and follow them yourselves. It is also a good idea to have things for them to do if they are not allowed on technology or to stay in their rooms for a few hours. Board games, exploring new areas in the city, going to friends' houses or even hanging out at the mall can all be options for children and teens to choose from.
4. Play is not just for Kids: Adults can also model play by having their own leisurely activities. We can easily go to trivia nights with friends, learn a new instrument, play sports, have game nights or even build Legos (I'm partial to the Lord of the Rings sets myself). By setting aside time to play you are also modeling the importance of setting boundaries for work and connecting with others.

Play has been a crucial part of child development for thousands of years. Research has shown that play can be just as important if not more than any kind of test prep often taking the place of recess in schools. Unfortunately the days of kids getting on their bikes and coming back before dark are gone; however, with a little bit of work, we can ensure that children get the opportunity to play for the rest of their lives.