 The
power of play
We all know that kids love to play but some forms are better
than others, as Sam Pope discovers.
How does play happen?
We were all born to play. Our innate curiosity, imagination and powers
of fantasy drive us to explore our surroundings and the objects within
them. The importance of play in our early development is vital, as US
psychologist David Elkind explains in his book The Power of Play,
"Children learn about themselves and their world through their play with
toys." Unfortunately, it seems that opportunities for free play are diminishing
nowadays.
According to Elkind, in the last 20 years children have lost 12 hours'
free time per week, including eight hours of unstructured play and outdoor
activities. Many children, often aged under five, are being booked into
organised sporting activities, which reduces the opportunities for them
to create their own areas of play. Additionally, television and other
screen entertainment is preventing imaginative play in preference for
passive entertainment.
Getting physical
With concerns over rising levels of obesity, one could forgive parents
for scheduling periods of regular physical exercise for their children.
However, structured sports offer no particular benefit, argues Elkind.
First, activities that they have to be undertaken at certain times and
defined places make the experience less like play and more like an obligation.
Second, on a physical level, the bodies of children aged six and under
are less developed, are often out of proportion and their bones haven't
calcified yet.
What is the best form of physical exercise for children, then, if we
want to encourage them to be fit and active? Elkind insists that children
under five get all the exercise they need from indoor and outdoor play
areas. "Pumping on a swing, going up and down on a slide, riding a trike,
playing in the sandbox, or scrambling up a climbing structure afford age-appropriate
practice for young muscles," he says.
The added benefit is that children can choose which activities to engage
in, when to start and stop and whom to play with, all of which are vital
decisions for a developing mind. "When we take away time from that playful
learning, we deprive the child of self-created learning experiences,"
Elkind explains.
Toys are us
The sheer variety of toys available these days is enough to confuse anyone
who dares to step into a shop. Divided into age-appropriate categories
and listed according to their function (e.g. role-play, creativity, character
toys, adventure, puzzles, music, classics, etc) you almost need a degree
in toy manufacturing to understand what they're all about! If we as adults
are confused by the sheer choice out there, it must surely baffle our
children.
Toys are mass-produced and are mainly made from plastic. Elkind finds
this a shame, saying the more traditional toys of the past were not only
more durable but also of greater benefit to children, stating that natural
materials such as wood and cotton are more comforting than their plastic
counterparts.
Additionally, their easy availability helps to decrease their value in
children's eyes. Whereas toys were once only given at Christmas and for
birthdays, children receive them all year round now, and quickly tire
of them. "[The number of toys] weakens the power of playthings to engage
children in dramatic thinking," warns Elkind. "Abundance, like familiarity,
breeds contempt."
The key here seems to be to try to invest in fewer toys and to choose
ones that are deemed 'classic', such as wooden building blocks, cotton
dollies, etc. Not only will your bank balance be healthier and your house
less cluttered but your child might appreciate your gifts more the less
frequently they are given.
Follow their lead
It's not only what children play with that is important but also with
whom. Parents are often the main playmate and our approach to activities
can influence how effective learning is through play. Most of us are so
keen to do this that we sometimes take things too far in our concern to
ensure our child gets the most from each and every experience.
However, often the best thing we can do is to sit back and observe, following
our child's lead. Even if the activities they initiate seem pointless
to us, they can be of great importance, as Elkind reveals. "These activities
are not random and have a pattern and organisation in keeping with the
child's level of mental ability." By all means participate but don't try
to stop your child's attempts to explore by distracting with something
you think is more interesting or educational.
Learn to let go
Most of us fondly remember times when we ran around outside without parental
supervision. We climbed trees, played cops and robbers and rode our bicycles
without helmets and other protective gear. However, we don't allow our
children these liberties these days, stating that things have changed
since we were young, that life is less safe and more rife with potential
hazards.
Unfortunately parental overprotection can hinder a child's ability to
explore their surroundings and indulge in self-created play. Elkind thinks
that parents with fewer children are more likely to be fearful of their
safety and therefore more controlling in what they allow their children
to engage in, leading to "a kind of over-intrusiveness in our children's
lives". This "angst" as he defines it is much more diluted in larger families,
where children tend to be more preoccupied with what they can do for their
parents, rather than constantly thinking about what their parents can
do for them.
This is not a request for parents to have more children by any means
but a suggestion that parents in small families relax a little and become
less emotionally invested in their children's welfare. Let them explore,
encourage them to use their imagination and see their development fly.
 The
Power of Play by David Elkind is available from Da
Capo Press
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