Playing is a source of happiness and an essential element for the development of our children. Today is the International Game Day and, instead of celebrating it, we have to denounce that we are loading the children's playtime with so much extracurricular and so much screen.
Children increasingly play less and each time they stop playing before, as reported by the Children's Game Observatory. Today is a good day to reflect on whether our children are playing enough and, if not, put measures to Recover the game time they need.
Playing is essential
Have you ever noticed a baby playing? Take some object with his hands, he turns it a thousand times, it smells it, he sucks it, he laughs if he makes any sound, he throws it on the ground, he picks it up again and he will be very angry if you take it off because he is doing exactly what he wants to do , what you need to do, you are playing and at the same time you are learning.
Children need to play. It is not something that is done between the end of homework and bath time. In fact, playing is a fundamental right of children (recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child), with the same importance as education or health. According to the Growing Playing Game Foundation, it helps children to:
- Develop intrinsic competencies and interests.
- Learn how to make decisions, solve problems, have self-control and follow rules. These rules also do not have to be written or explicit, but are understood by the participants in the game.
- Learn how to regulate and control your emotions.
- Make friends and learn from others as equals.
For all this, the game provides a whole series of tools that facilitate the development of children and their transition to the adult universe by enabling them to rehearse, through the application of all their senses, their place in the world.
Each time they play less
However, in our society where children have everything, less and less is played. Lack of time and excess screen are the main causes.
According to the article entitled "The decline of the game and the increase in psychopathology," published in the American Journal of Play:
"In the last 50 years, free play with other children has been significantly reduced while cases of anxiety, depression or feelings of helplessness have increased among children, adolescents and young adults. Children throughout history and from different cultures they have acquired the skills necessary for adult life through childhood play, exploring and playing freely. Traditionally, play has been the essence of childhood. "
For Gonzalo Jover, director of the Children's Game Observatory, "subtracting children from space and time to play means preventing them, not only one of their fundamental rights, but ultimately, the ability to live their childhood fully." However, at present, children spend much less time on the game (about an hour and a half per day according to a study by the Spanish Association of Toy Manufacturers AEFJ) that, on the screens, that the latest surveys set at 30 hours per week or other regulated activities.
Less children to play
In addition to screen time, there are the hours that children spend in the afternoon doing homework and extracurricular activities, many times because parents have to work longer hours after they leave school.
As there are fewer and fewer children, the number of unique children in families is increasing and, therefore, the option of playing at home with siblings disappears. On the other hand, the street has long since ceased to be the natural setting for peer play. Until we get more friendly and safe cities for children we will be leaving video game consoles and TV free.
Childhood lasts less and less
Other aspects such as the education system are also influencing the way our children live their childhood. For example, according to the AEFJ study mentioned above, children have early adult interests. This is due, in part, to the passage to the institute with 11 years and not with 14, since the jump to the secondary one almost always implies a rejection to the referents of the infantile world like the game and the toys.
In addition, parents confirm that from the age of 7 their children prefer activities other than the game, such as video games or watching television or tablet.
A day to reflect
Today is the International Game Day and it is a perfect time to claim: more time for children to play and safer spaces for them to relate to each other.
Since Playing is a right we propose several ideas to celebrate this day with family and friends:
- Propose a game of parcheesi, cards or any board game you have at home
- Visit the neighborhood facilities that have prepared activities
- Get off the bicycles and tricycles and go for a walk in the nearest park
- Take dolls and monsters for a walk
- Go down to the park to play the top, the yo-yo, with ropes or rubber bands, the ball ...
In Babies and more Some children spend less time outdoors than prisoners: why play is important in their education, Children to play, which is their thing
