Study: Free-play time for kids undervalued

You may have heard some of the media reports about a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics which urges more unstructured play time for children. The full 32-page report is available on the American Academy of Pediatrics' web site and is worth reading. It is available here:

http://www.aap.org/pressroom/playFINAL.pdf


For those who don't have the time to read the full report or want to know what the study is all about, here is the abstract:

ABSTRACT. Play is essential to development as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children. Despite the benefits derived from play for both children and parents, time for free play has been markedly reduced for some children. This report addresses a variety of factors that have reduced play, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure, and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play. This report offers guidelines on how pediatricians can advocate for children by helping families, school systems, and communities consider how best to ensure play is protected as they seek the balance in children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.