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Little League, swimming lessons, day camps and dance classes keep kids hopping while the heat is on. Don't feel pressured, though, to jam-pack your child's schedule.
Children also need unstructured playtime, in part to help with their emotional and physical development, says Lea Ann Lowery, a University of Missouri occupational therapist. A lack of unstructured playtime might be why today's young adults have trouble with problem-solving or critical thinking, she says.
“Play is the vehicle for the development of many major life skills,” says Lowery, a clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy in the MU School of Health Professions. “Children can work on simple, basic social skills such as taking turns, interacting with others and following directions, and fine motor skills such as dressing, cooking and hand-eye coordination during play time. While some structured play is fine, overly structured play doesn't encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
Playtime doesn't need to be expensive. Most children can develop their imagination skills with stuff around the house. Lowery is concerned that children, instead of using their imaginations, are:
Becoming reliant on certain objects, usually electronics, to have fun.
Lacking creativity in games or are unable to find other ways to play with toys.
Needing immediate gratification during activities.
Becoming bored because they don't know how to occupy themselves.
“Play isn't play if there are too many rules, and it's important to allow children to make messes,” Lowery says.
Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, agrees. She has researched the power of play for several years, and says, “Play not only enhances learning, but also fosters creative thinking.”
Children are being robbed of playtime at home and school, Hirsh-Pasek says.
Passive options for summer do not enhance intellectual, social, emotional and physical development, according to the Alliance for Childhood at www.allianceforchildhood .org .
Ideas for parents to create a free-play environment at home:
Your child pretends to drive. Extend his play by asking, “Where are you going?” Provide paper and markers for making signs, and a suitcase.
A large empty box could be a cave one day, a post office the next, a boat the next. Don't barge in and decide.
Swap child-care responsibilities with other parents so kids can play together without adults spending any money.
United Feature Syndicate
