I read the most interesting article in Parenting magazine this month about the decline of free play in today’s children. Author Ted Spiker emphasized that many modern parents are possibly involving their kids in too many extracurricular activities, limiting their time for explorative play.
Spiker quoted a study by Boston College’s Peter Gray, Ph.D., that indicated eighty-five percent of moms studied said that they, as kids, played at least twice as much as their own children.
I can attest to this. When my sister and I were kids we had no computer, cell phone, iPad, or any other technological device except for maybe a Sony walkman that only worked if my parents thought to buy batteries during their weekly grocery trip. When little, we anxiously awaited Saturday morning cartoons, as that was the only time they were on. We played for hours on end doing crazy things like putting on talent shows in full costume and venturing into the woods to pretend like we were the characters from Bridge to Terabithia.
The Spiker article focused on the positive attributes of free play and the many life lessons that are subsequently learned. With Pinterest boards, Facebook posts, play dates, technology, sports, and numerous other activities available for our children, it’s easy to feel like we as parents have to ‘overbook’ our kids to ensure they’re learning enough and experiencing as much as possible.
Yesterday as I watched Brooks put on a ‘clown’ show for his stuffed animals all by himself in his room, I realized that giving him the time for free play is just as if not more important than a scheduled event or class.
Don’t misunderstand me. I think sports, dance, music, art, and other organized events have a place in a child’s life, and my own boys will be involved in whatever activities they enjoy. These experiences teach them self-confidence and skills. They introduce them to adult mentors and new friends. They make them aware of talents that will accompany them throughout their entire lives.
It’s all about balance. It’s all about us patting ourselves on the backs for merely getting out of bed every day and spending every waking moment with our kids at the forefront of our minds. When we feel the pressure that modern day parents feel, we need to remember our own childhoods, appreciate the people we’ve grown up to be, and realize that we did all of that with only a fraction of the stimulation our own children have at their immediate disposal.