Make No Mistake—Play Is Crucial, Experts Say

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

(NAPSA)—While mostkids score an “A’ in play, many parents need to understand just how crucial play is for their children’s development. That's the consensus experts share in “The American State of Play” report published by The Geniusof Play™, a na- tional movement to raise awareness of play’s vital benefits. “The latest research showsthat children are spendingless time playing than everbefore andit’s a problem,” says Dana Points, a parenting expert and one of the report's contributors. “Play is one of the mostessential elements of learning, helping kids develop social, emotional and cognitive skills. Yet overly struc- tured schedules, increased screen time and diminishing recesses in schools are getting in the way.” To help your child learn, explore, create and evolve through play, check outthesetips: Engage in All Types of Play. Kids learn throughall play, but notall play must be structured andnotall play is the same. Kids maytakepartin active, cooperative, creative, even solitary play in a single afternoon, with and withoutactualtoys. UsePlay as a LearningTool. Enrolling children in a program to learn a skill is not the sameas just letting kids play. The pressure parents feel to make sure their kids are getting the best training can be counterproductive to the posi- Parenting experts and educators say that if parents understood just how crucial play was for their children’s development, they’d encouragetheir kids to play more often. help them make better decisions and then set certain parametersin terms of knowing where they are, giving them space and trusting their judgment. That's how kids learn independence, competence, and confidence they need for successinlife. Guide Children’s Tech Use. Give kids time to explore virtual worlds and tech-based play but set limits, just as you do with everything else. Parents can be role models in how to use technologyin a responsible way. Let Kids Lead the Way. Parents learn much more from children when they interact and play with them on their terms. Just being present plays a sig- learning they get through play. nificantrole. More expert advice and everyday play ideas based on a child’s age or developmental stage are available at helps kids learn. Research showsthat children are more attentive after recess. GeniusofPlay’s mission to bring more play into kids’ lives andgetdaily play inspiration tive emotional, social and skill-based Recognize the Powerof Recess. Recess Trust Your Kids, Within Boundaries. Teach kids problem-solving skills to TheGeniusofPlay.org. To support The and facts, follow @GeniusOfPlay on Facebook and Instagram.

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