Once upon a time, kids roamed free, going from yard to yard, playing with the neighborhood kids, organizing their own games, and coming back at dinnertime totally wiped out. Today, between screen time, school, organized lessons and sports, homework and a parental fear of letting children out of sight, this kind of free play has mostly gone out the window. What's gone out with it is a whole spectrum of growth and development opportunities, from communication skills and physical health to innovation and creativity, which all play big roles in shaping our children for a positive future.
During the school year, many kids are simply too busy to even play outside, and when they do have down time, many spend it in front of a screen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kids spend an average of six to nine hours per day in front of a screen, depending on their age. These days, parents just about have to force their children to entertain themselves.
Allowing children to have some control over their time and choose what they want to do with it (away from the screen), is an important part of childhood development, and a factor that most parents overlook in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Here are ways parents can help kids blossom outside of school:
Schedule down time: As they drive the little ones around from one activity to another, parents these days are just about as busy as their kids. Although they do it with the best intentions, with the hopes of giving them opportunities to grow through things like music lessons and gymnastics, kids need down time to grow in other ways. And just like adults, children need alone time as well, even if they don't admit it. When left alone, before long he/she will come up with something to do, whether it's an imaginary game, building something or reading a book.
Unstructured exercise: Parents may feel that their kids' little league practice constitutes playtime or free time, but studies have found that these organized sports are turning kids into passive observers instead of leaders. Here, the kids are being told what to do by a coach instead of being allowed to solve their own problems. Instead, send kids outside every once in a while with a baseball or a soccer ball, and let them create their own game. This teaches them how to get along with other people and solve their own problems, using critical thinking.
Get into the wild: Many studies have found that nature has a calming effect, allowing people to use different parts of their brains. Instead of using directed attention in school or in front of screens, time in nature allows kids to use all of their senses. It also creates a calming sense of wonder.
For any questions, call or contact John Alderson Agency today.
