Play is important for children regardless of physical activity level, say researchers who advise against restructuring play to encourage physical activity.©Olesya Feketa/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – In a panic over increasingly sedentary children, experts and parents alike have attempted to structure playtime to make it active in the hopes of increasing fitness, but a new study says that might not be necessary and points to the importance of free play. “By focusing on the physical activity aspect of play, authorities put aside several aspects of play that are beneficial to young people’s emotional and social health,” says Professor Katherine Frohlich of the university’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. Play, say the researchers, is beneficial to the emotions, provides relief from worries and problems and encourages healthy socializing. In the study, 25 children from Montreal between the ages of 7 and 11 were asked to photograph and describe what they do during their playtime. Sports, say the researchers, were well-represented, but so were many sedentary activities such as arts and crafts, and spending time with pets. Talking to the children about their playtime helped researchers understand what play meant to them and they concluded that play as an end in itself is important to children and that the challenges children create for themselves make for a healthy degree of risk that enriches their lives. They also found the children felt ambivalence towards their scheduled activities and didn’t have enough time for unstructured play. “Play reframed as a way for improving physical health Read More …
