Wondering whether to boot up your child's favorite computer game or send him or her outside to play? Experts from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., in Princeton, New Jersey, say that outdoor play should be given the highest priority - and not just because it provides physical activity.
In addition to providing your child with the benefits of physical activity, play helps to develop three key areas of well-being. They include:
- attention: Being able to pay attention is an important skill that's needed for learning, and play helps to develop it. Many parents and teachers believe that when kids get plenty of play time, they're better able to learn and behave in the classroom. In addition, the unstructured environment of the outdoors lets kids make decisions and encourages them to solve problems. The problem solving kids learn when playing outdoors aids them in learning executive functioning - a term used to describe the complex skills of planning, organizing, sequencing, and decision making.
- affiliation: During play, kids learn to connect with peers and family members while at the same time learning cooperation skills and how to compromise. Working with others while playing also helps kids to cultivate empathy for others and learn to be flexible, self-aware, and self-regulating.
- affect: The fact that play makes kids happy (and improves their mood, or affects it) could be one of the most important reasons that adults should encourage frequent outdoor play. Regular physical activity (and for kids that means play) is thought to reduce anxiety, depression, aggression, and sleep problems and improve overall emotional well-being.
Researchers emphasize that many parents may be haunted by their own discouraging experiences with exercise or negative associations with weight loss attempts, which could lead them to be reluctant to encourage physical activity in their children.
What This Means to You: Encouraging your child to simply play on a daily basis - preferably in an outdoor environment like a yard, playground, or park - not only provides great physical benefits, but also has positive effects on learning, social relationships, and mood. When looking for an outdoor play space, seek an area that has equipment appropriate for your child's age and developmental level. The outdoor space should also be safe and free of litter and broken glass, and don't forget to slather your child with a sunscreen containing a sun protection factor of 15, even on cloudy days.
Source: Hillary L. Burdette, MD, MS; Robert C. Whitaker, MD, MPH; Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, January 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2005
