WHY TRADITIONAL PLAY IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR KIDS
Thanks to excessive ipad use, experts are warning that kids are struggling to hold pens, because without Play-doh, craft and drawing, muscles don’t develop. Emma agrees children need both
As a modern mum, I’m all too aware of the role digital tools can play in making parenting easier. How many of us can deny handing our kids our mobile phone to head off a supermarket meltdown, or passing them the ipad while we do the housework? Cyber technology is everywhere, and introducing our kids to it seems to have become the norm. As long as you are also balancing this sort of play with other, more creative options then it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. But if the balance is wrong, it can be problematic in lots of ways.
MIX UP PLAY THINGS
We all know that tablets and phones can completely mesmerise children, and you may well ask, “If they are safe and content, then what’s the problem?” But, according to doctors and orthopaedic therapists, this type of play could be having a pretty serious impact on their development, undermining their hand strength and agility, which are both essential when they learn to write. By introducing some “classic” activities, you can help prevent these issues.
ENJOY ARTS & CRAFTS
Drawing, painting and cutting out all boost fine motor skills and coordination. Playing with Play-doh, holding scissors and scribbling with crayons ensures development of muscles in the shoulder and elbow. And these activities are are also fantastic for imaginative and creative play, both of which are linked to intelligence.
ENCOURAGE MAKE BELIEVE
Aside from helping their physical and intellectual development, traditional play like hide-and-seek, musical statues and hopscotch can also keep kids at a healthy weight. When you allow your child lots of screen time, they become very sedentary, and are more likely to become overweight. A little screen time is OK, but be sure to invest in dressing up costumes (or make some of your own), encourage lots of makebelieve and adventurous games, and get crafty, because these foundations of a childhood well spent will create memories that can last a lifetime.