What Happened to Play?

What Happened to Play?

“Play is under pressure right now, as parents and policymakers try to make preschools more like schools. But pretend play is not only important for kids; it’s a crucial part of what makes all humans so smart,” writes leading researcher Alison Gopnik, in an article on the Smithsonian website.

Children who are better at pretending can better reason about counterfactuals. They are better at thinking about different possibilities. And thinking about possibilities plays a crucial role in the latest understanding about how children learn. The idea is that children at play are like scientists testing theories. They imagine ways the world could work and predict the pattern of data that would follow if their theories were true, and then compare that pattern with the pattern they actually see. Even toddlers turn out to be smarter than we would have thought if we ask them the right questions in the right way.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, in her article, Advocating for Play, states, “Children today are playing less at home, outdoors, and at school. According to a national Kaiser Family Foundation survey, children in the two- to seven-year-old age group now average about three hours per day in front of screens — time they don't spend in active, child-centered play.”

Try this, the next time you go out to a restaurant, count the TV’s. Almost every restaurant has at least one television. Most have multiple. As adults, we push these images and noises into the background. But, imagine a little brain attempting to process so much input, not to mention the sensory experience of dining at a restaurant! When you find a restaurant without a TV, let me know. I am compiling a list of places I can go with my family that don’t have screens but do have air conditioning.

Rae Pica, in The State of Early Childhood, writes about three things that she has heard consistently from her colleagues in the field of education:

1. More children are unable to cross the midline of the body.

Sadly, this isn’t surprising, considering one pediatrician’s contention that infants are spending upward of 60 waking hours a week in things, like car seats, highchairs, and such. One of my colleagues calls this ‘containerized kids’.

2. Children don't know how to play anymore.

Some of the reasons behind this are painfully clear. Between digital devices and television, children have a multitude of images at their fingertips. They have no need to imagine because marketers and video producers have already done all the imagining for them.

3. The children have no fine motor control.

Little ones are far more likely to be holding a digital device these days than a crayon or pair of scissors.

How we do solve this problem? As we enter into a new Jewish year, commit to allowing imagination, discovery and “Aha!” moments in your life. Whether it is with your own children, grandchildren, or even yourself. Allowing moments away from the screen and pre-packaged life will enable you and you loved ones to stretch those brain muscles and discover more. And, don’t forget to send me those screen free recommendations!