Is Play Time Coming to an End?

Is Play Time Coming To An End?

            At an early age in all of our lives we devote a majority of our days to play time. Play time, when we would play in the house or in the school yard and make up imaginary places and scenes in our heads and act them out using what little supplies we had. These activities played an essential part of our childhood. It kept us active, social, and it allowed us to use our imaginations. Nowadays this fun-loving free time is becoming absent in children’s lives.

http://www.hangthebankers.com/society-now-criminalizing-parents-that-allow-children-to-play-in-the-yard-what-is-the-world-coming-to/

“Is Play on its Way Out”, an article written by Rose Garrett touches upon the topic of how and why children are becoming less, and less interested in good old fashion play. Garrett says that “Child-initiated play can develop social skills, problem-solving, creative thinking, self-awareness and confidence, as well as providing an opportunity for healthy exercise.” If play time is playing such a huge role in child development then why is it not filling the interest of children anymore?

There are many factors as to why play just isn’t as important to children anymore. One of the largest factors is technology. When a child has a screen in front of them for all of the hours that they have free it takes away the time that they would be experiencing play time and gives no motivation to be active and enjoy play. A few other factors include the pressure to do well in school, organized sports, and after school activities. With these school activities taking up most of children’s lives they have a hard time finding time to just play freely.

What the article suggests is not for students and children to fill important learning time with play, but to make time available for play, Garrett states that ”This process of self-discovery deserves to be treated with as much care and respect by educators and families as the cultivation of literacy and the mastery of mathematical skills.” The process of play is an important factor in how well students are going to develop.

So what can be done about it? Well, when it comes to schooling it doesn’t take the need for work load and after school actives such as sports or extra help to disappear of even lessen it takes taking time in the school days to have free time and just let the students play and do what their imaginations let them do. Play time reduces stress in children’s lives and promotes positivity, and improves social skills, all aspects of education and how to benefit their education.

The article provides solutions to this problem. Solutions include making the outdoors a must, reducing computer and other technology, and above all do not over schedule children with a bunch of activities. Making the outdoors a must would benefit even by just having a short walk, and getting students and children into the outdoors where their imaginations can expand. Reducing computer time would get the children off the screens and playing with their imaginations. Over scheduling a child will cost them to have little to no free time for play and would cause them to miss out on important developmental aspects. Children’s development and level of fun depend on play time, schools should use positive reinforcements and encouragements to get there students out and having good old fashion play time.