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is a treasured piece of childhood and plays a vital role in helping children grow

happier, well-adjusted adults. a mix of free play and structured time helps kids build an array of skills and feel more balanced in their everyday lives,” said Marilyn Moskowitz, LMFT/LCSW, and a clinical supervisor for Imperial County Behavioral Health Services.

Moskowitz spoke on the importance of spending time outdoors, whether as children engaged in the business of play or as adults spending time gardening or out in nature, during the “Nurturing Nature” track at the third annual World Mental Health Summit at Imperial Valley College. Hundreds of people attended the Oct. 11 summit, which featured dozens of workshops in a variety of tracks: Students & Scholars; Body Movement; Salud Mental y Bienestar; Cultural Strengths; Nurturing Nature; and Lifestyle Health.

In Moskowitz’s summit workshop, she asked her audience, “What was your experience growing up like?” Some of the responses that came were “no electronics,” “we played outside,” “we drank from the hose,” and “Mom sent us outside to play until the streetlights came on.”

Moskowitz explained that when children play outside, they are learning to get along, to t in, to look out for each other. They develop interpersonal skills. “They sort out how they get along with each other,” she said.

Moskowitz then asked, “How did you play? Who did you play with?” before explaining the importance of childhood play in such crucial development as learning to self-regulate their behavior.

“When children are involved in unstructured play, they learn to adjust themselves,” she said. “True free play is child-initiated, spontaneous and guided by the child’s imagination without the direction of an adult.”

An American Academy of Pediatrics report released last year explained that “Play is not frivolous: it enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function (i.e., the process of learning, rather than the content), which allow us to pursue goals and ignore distractions” (“The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children).

Moskowitz emphasized that free play does not include time with electronics, such as the television, video games or computer. The pervasiveness of electronics interferes with free play and can stunt a child’s emotional and mental development. Recent studies have shown how smartphones and other electronic devices are linked to increased numbers of anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies in children and teenagers. But free play, Moskowitz said, can help children who are becoming dependent upon their electronics learn to play without them..

“If you take kids who are glued to electronics to the park, they play, play, play and don’t come asking for electronics. They’re interacting, moving, laughing,” she said.

Moscowitz said six bene ts of free play for children are:

1. It builds creativity and ability to come up with

unique ideas; 2 It develops motor planning skills, helping the child to create and carry out ideas, motor actions and activities;

3. It fosters decision-making skills. Unstructured play provides many opportunities to make choices while playing alone or while playing in a group;

4. It fosters independence, helping children learn to think independently and learn how to entertain themselves;

5. It develops social skills and collaborative play skills by allowing children to develop con ict resolution skills and learn to take turns. It also helps children develop skills as leaders and as followers.

6. It provides opportunities for children to discover their interests and skills.

“One of the things I talk about with the parents I work with, is that if parents take children to the park, the kids bene t and the parents bene t,” Moskowitz said earlier. “The parents can relax and they will nd the child is calmer, tired and ready for bed when it’s time to go home.”

Children are designed with incredible amounts of energy, and their brains are aimed toward exploration and play, she said. Because play has been reduced at school and at home, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are showing higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Free play can help alleviate that stress, anxiety and depression.

“Play is a holistic type of thing,” Moskowitz said. “It fosters decision-making skills and fosters independence.” 