PLAY IS IDEAL FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH

Our current parenting practices have reduced children’s capacity to play.

From anecdotal experience, there are new trends that have emerged of raising up children and not allowing them to play under the pretext that they will get soiled and dirty. Children have so limited time that parents enforce by imposing stringent controls on children. Today’s discussion will focus on highlighting the dangers of not allowing children a perfect play time as regards to their mental health.

A study by Ginsburg and others highlights that play is key as far as child development is concerned. The aspects of development being cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing are aided by play. Physically, play helps children have good physical fitness as well as build coordination and balance.

Interaction with others whilst playing helps enhance children’s social skills.

They are able to listening actively and express their emotional experiences. In fact, several studies have pointed out that play is crucial to children’s development as it allows them to be able to process their most difficult emotions. Selfesteem, confidence and independence are some of the good traits annexed through play.

It must be noted that children start to interpret the environment during the early stages of their lives.

Through play, they are able to develop own imagination and develop particular interests.

There is intense problem solving, thinking and learning in the various games played. Parents should provide a safe and secure environment that is suitable for play, which is, not imposing playing patterns on children.

Failure to do that may lead to the children having distorted thinking patterns and retarded cognitive growth.

Several mental health problems can develop because of the lack of playing opportunities in children.

According to UNICEF, “children who play regularly with their parents are less likely to develop anxiety, depression, aggression and sleep problems.” This clearly demonstrates that children who have less playing time are prone to mental health problems.

Let’s reflect on how we raise our children. Children need to be allowed to have time to play.

There must be some self-determination from the children themselves on what to play, as that enhances their experiences. Parents have been traditionally not been involved in play, but they are encouraged to also get involved in children’s play as that also strengthens emotional bonding and closeness.