CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Here's some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime. Many parents load their children's schedules with get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a drive to help them excel. The efforts often begin as early as infancy. Spontaneous, free play -- whether it's chasing butterflies, playing with "true toys" such as blocks and dolls, or just romping on the floor with mom and dad -- often is sacrificed in the shuffle, a new academy report says. Jennifer Gervasio has a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter involved in preschool three mornings weekly, plus T-ball and ballet for each one day a week. That's a light schedule compared with her kids' friends, and Gervasio said her son in particular has trouble finding buddies who are free to come over and just play. "There's just such a huge variety of things you can do for your kids if you have the resources, you almost feel why not," said Gervasio, of Wilmette, Ill. "There is a part of me that would worry if I don't sign my son up for some of these things, will he not be on par with the other kids." For now, she says, she resists the pressure, instead allowing her kids plenty of time for looking for bugs, romping at the beach and other play activities they love to do. "I truly believe that they're better off when they can just do their own thing," Gervasio said. Numerous studies have shown that unstructured play has many benefits. It can help children become creative, discover their own passions, develop problem-solving skills, relate to others and adjust to school settings, the academy report says. "Perhaps above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood," says the report, prepared by two academy committees for release Monday at the group's annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A lack of spontaneous playtime can create stress for children and parents alike. If it occurs because young children are plopped in front of get-smart videos or older children lose school recess time, it can increase risks for obesity. It may even contribute to depression for many children, the report says. Social pressures and marketing pitches about creating "super children" contribute to a lack of playtime for many families. But so does living in low-income, violence-prone neighborhoods where safe places to play are scarce, the report says. It says enrichment tools and organized activities can be beneficial but should not be viewed as a requirement for creating successful children. Above all, they must be balanced with plenty of free play time, the report says. "In the current environment where so many parents feel pressure to be super parents, I believe this message is an important one," said Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, the report's lead author and a pediatrician at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Noted pediatrician and author Dr. T. Berry Brazelton praised the academy's report. "I hope it will have some effect," Brazelton said. Children overscheduled with structured activities "are missing the chance they have to dream, to fantasize, to make their own world work the way they want it. That to me is a very important part of childhood," Brazelton said.
This would be funnier if it weren't close to the truth: The math teacher saw that little Johnny wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, "Johnny! what are 4, 2, 28 and 44?" Little Johnny quickly replied, "NBC, CBS, HBO and the Cartoon Network!" It's really easy these days to over-schedule your kids. I have to closely monitor what we sign up for (as compared to what they ask for) so that there are no conflicts and they are still allowed time to have simple fun. Sports programs and activities are everywhere - and each sounds just as fun as the next. Having been down that hectic road before, we now allow only one activity per season. I enrolled in that school, too.
I still play all the time too. As a kid, and all the way through high school, I learned 10 times as much from playing and socializing than from any classes. I'm glad I don't have any human kids, just the furry one in my avatar. He likes to play too.
I figure what most have forgotten now days is moderation. The kids need time where they have to find ways to entertain them selves to develope problem solving and creative skills, disipline and direction to stay headed the right way, and some scheduled events some of them group events to learn about comitments, socialization and basic scheduleing. What they dont need is to have every wakeing hour scheduled and structured to the point they are lost if they dont have something on the schedule they are 'supposed' to be doing, so much unstructured (and unsupervised) time they get bored to the point of getting into trouble, so much heavy handedness they only know how to follow orders, so little disipline they dont know there are consequences for their actions, so little praise they dont think they can acomplish anything or so much 'every one gets a trophy' crap that they develope a sence of entitlement or that thier true acomplishments where they excell hold no meaning since the reward is the same asif they just showed up.
