I remember fondly a joy-filled childhood in which we came home from school, gobbled down a snack and ran out to play until dark. We made up games, taught each other to roller skate and ride bicycles, ran and jumped, climbed and fell, fought and negotiated, and generally had lots of fun without adults telling us what to do.
In playgrounds, we climbed high slides, going up the ladder and the slide itself; soared on swings; swung from monkey bars; and seesawed, carefully balancing weight by moving up or down on the seat.
Play has taken on new forms in these "modern" times. Adults hover over preschoolers, "helping" them play nicely and preventing them from hurting themselves or others. For first graders and beyond, if they have any free time at all, most playgrounds have become so safe as to be utterly boring.
Unfettered playtime is more and more consumed, in school and at home, by academic programs, electronic media and games, and adult-organized activities at the expense of children's physical, emotional and social development, say experts on play and its role in child development.
Schools are eliminating recess and physical education to cram in lessons on reading and math to meet nationally prescribed academic standards. Over-programmed children are under stress to perform, perform, perform, with few or no outlets for that stress. Many children who lack adult supervision at home are stuck "safely" indoors after school.
"From a child development perspective, children need access to an environment that allows them to play out what is natural to them -— physical, dramatic, constructive and spontaneous games," Joe Frost, an emeritus professor of education at the University of Texas who is an expert on play and playgrounds around the world, said in an interview. "But in our high-tech society, children go indoors right after school and eat junk food and play video games."
No wonder this nation is suffering from an epidemic of childhood depression and obesity.
THE VALUE OF PLAY
A report in the journal Pediatrics in January by Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg and two committees of the American Academy of Pediatrics summed up the importance of free play to a child's development. It made these points:
— Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength.
— Play is important to brain development.
— Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles.
— Play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face challenges.
— Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate and to resolve conflicts.
— Some play must remain child-driven, with parents either not present or as passive observers. When play is child-driven, children practice decision-making, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.
— When play is controlled by adults, children acquiesce to adult rules and concerns and lose some benefits of play, particularly in developing creativity, leadership and group skills.
— In contrast to passive entertainment, play builds active, healthy bodies.
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