Play ‘boosts children’s development and happiness’

by Agency Reporter

Children Playing

Play helps boost children’s language development, problem solving, risk management and independent learning skills, a study reaffirms.

The report, for the Children’s Play Policy Forum, found play improved children’s physical and mental health, as well as their emotional well-being.

It also found playtime in the school playground could enhance academic skills and attitudes and behaviour.

Wednesday’s report is published to coincide with the UK Playday.

Now in its 27th year, the aim of Playday is to give children, parents and communities an opportunity to highlight the positive impact of play.

Community spirit

The report – the Play Return – reviews a wide range of research into the importance of play in supporting children develop essential skills and knowledge as they grow up.

How much exercise should children take?

Health professionals recommend that children aged five to 18 get at least one hour of aerobic activity a day. This should include a mix of moderate-intensity activities (working hard enough to raise the heart rate and break a sweat and vigorous-intensity activities (breathing hard and fast, the heart rate going up quite a bit).

As part of this 60 or more minutes, children should also do activities that strengthen their muscles and bones.

Children under five, who can walk unaided, should be physically active every day for at least three hours, spread throughout the day, indoors or out.

Source: NHS Choices

Parents associated playing in playgrounds with family well-being and those who lived near playgrounds and visited them often reported higher levels of family happiness.

The study also said play and youth facilities in public spaces had led to reductions in levels of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

The report also found families and communities benefited from play initiatives and wanted action to improve them.

It said play initiatives often generated high levels of volunteering support and a sense of community spirit.

Culled from the BBC News