NURTURE
children
Let
play
A child’s playtime is
surprisingly not child’s
play at all. In fact, playtime
is important for your
child’s development.
Family & Life busts a few
common playtime myths.
Playt
is a Lime
Priorow
ity
It is
comm
on for
paren
ts to t
ell
their c
hildre
nt
comp
lete th o
eir
home
wor
play. A k or chores
be
ch
high o ild’s playtim fore they c
an
n the
e is us
list
u
paren
ts, wh of priorities ally not
en
of
an int
egral actually, it s most
part o
hould
f a kid
be
’s day
Of cou
.
rse, yo
ur chil
negle
dren s
ct the
ir sch
Howe
oolwo houldn’t
ver
r
childr , the playtim k or chores
en eng
.
e that
ag
your
their f
riends e in, either
with y
, is ex
in the
o
treme
ir cog
ly imp u or
nitive,
emotio
ortant
social
nal de
velopm , physical
and
ent.
What
may s
eem l
about
ike a c
and w
hild
asting
crucia
time is messing
l part
actu
of t
will pl
ay a p heir life pro ally a
art in
a well
mould cess and
-adjus
ing th
ted yo
em in
uth.
to
Letting your
children play
by themselves
while you quietly
observe and
respond
accordingly
helps them to
cultivate initiative
and hone their
creativity.
22
Family & Life • Oct 2013
ime
Playt Be
Must tured
Struc is
pore
Singa led
l-oi
a wel c
mi
econo ,
ine
nd
mach
ure, a
d by
struct schedule
dicate
pre
n and in the
isatio
organ tivities not
avily
ac
nd he
rrant
nce a
e
nie
conve
can in ur society.
to
the
disrup
apply
ant to o the
also w cture t
y, we
ru
ing
turall
ted st
ensur
Na
gimen children,
re
in,
same ur young
ngage ive.
of o
hey e
t
ct
lives
ctivity
n obje
very a ime, has a
that e
ayt
ing pl
includ
ring
os du
e cha r even
, som
as, o
uality
e just ldren than
In act
can b
chi
me
playti neficial, for g your
be
Lettin pens
more
play!
hap
tured
m the
what
struc
ecide d giving the
en d
childr aytime an
lps to
l
es he
ring p ke mistak problemdu
and
to ma
room ir creativity ung age.
yo
the
rom a
build
kills f
gs
solvin
ise to
e unw
ould b trol over
w
rse, it lute con
am
Of cou
abso
em ro
e them t letting th them from
giv
me bu u monitor
hen
playti
em w
ile yo
ly wh
efit th
free
y ben
ill onl r.
afar w
lde
row o
hey g
t
Playti
Must me
Safe Be
As a c
aring
paren
t, you
will
under
standa
bly
want t
o prot
ect
your y
oun
as pos g one from
inju
sib
climbin le, restrictin ry as much
g them
g platf
orms
arms
that th from
canno
eir s
t re
them
from r ach and pre tubby
unn
ventin
barefo
g
oted o ing around
n the g
and fa
ras
ll over
a rock s lest they t
.
rip
But, th
e scra
pes th
might
at y
suffer
are vit our childre
their h
n
al in
an
skills d-eye coord developing
and sp
ination
atial a
waren , motor
ess.
Just l
ike ho
wy
when
learni ou first fell
ng ho
bicycl
w to r down
e, the
ide a
sa
playti
me. F me applies
alls a
to
parce
re ju
l of th
e grow st part and
and w
ing ex
ill onl
pe
y enri
lives i
ch you rience
n the
r child
long r
ren’s
un.
Good
Bad GGuy/
Playt uy
Lead ime
Violes to
It’s n nce
o
tt
that l rue
etting
your
childr
en ac
t out
a goo
fanta
dg
those uy and a b sies involv
ad gu
ing
yo
y,
will c u usually
see in like
reate
violen
movie
t child
s,
ren.
Actin
g out
these
gives
scena
your
rio
ch
to ex
plore ildren a c s
hanc
the q
right
e
uesti
an
ons o
ropes d wrong,
f
learn
of ne
the
go
them
to pra tiation an
d
ctise
their
contr allows
emot
olling
ions
strug
dur
gles.
It als ing power
oppo
o giv
rtu
the id nity to tea es you an
ch th
eals
of fai
e
and j
rness m about
ustic
, equ
e if th
tears
ality
ey ru
in
overb their eyes n to you w
earin
, cau
sed b ith
g pla
ymat
y an
e.
In fac
t, ma
ny c
childr
en de hild exper
prive
ts say
imag
do
inary
play a f this type
be vio
re mo
o
lent l
re lik f
ate
other
ely to
beha r on in life
viour
al pro or have
blem
s.
t
Table me
i
Playt
Is Baid ren are
ld
Our ch up on the
ng
growi he digital
t of t
cres
tion.
ould
revolu
ren w
, child doors
a time at out
upon
gre
Once
to the
s head
out in er, a child’
of
ead
h
owev
e glow
play. H inated by th h their
to
illum
ds wit
being n their han
een is
et i
he scr ight
a tabl
d on t
xe
on s
ransfi
comm
eyes t
more
ing a
becom s.
day
t
these
ight no
enon m and can
nom
is phe
thing
n’s
Yet, th ily be a bad
hildre
r
your c d with
essa
nec
elp to