(Natural News) Many parents have tried to gave their children a head start on education with get-smart videos and enrichment activities as early as infancy, but free play is often sacrificed, so the American Academy of Pediatrics says that the best medicine for busy children is an increase in traditional "playtime".
(
Natural
News
)
Many
parents
have
tried
to
gave
their
children
a
head
start
on
education
with
get-smart
videos
and
enrichment
activities
as
early
as
infancy
,
but
free
play
is
often
sacrificed
,
so
the
American
Academy
of
Pediatrics
says
that
the
best
medicine
for
busy
children
is
an
increase
in
traditional
``
playtime
''
.
A number of studies suggest that unstructured play can help children become creative, discover their own interests, develop problem-solving abilities, and relate to others socially, according to a report prepared by two academy committees for release Monday at the group's annual meting.
A
number
of
studies
suggest
that
unstructured
play
can
help
children
become
creative
,
discover
their
own
interests
,
develop
problem-solving
abilities
,
and
relate
to
others
socially
,
according
to
a
report
prepared
by
two
academy
committees
for
release
Monday
at
the
group
's
annual
meting
.
On the contrary, a lack of such playtime can create stress for both children and parents, and it can also cause obesity when children spend too much time sitting in front of educational videos.
On
the
contrary
,
a
lack
of
such
playtime
can
create
stress
for
both
children
and
parents
,
and
it
can
also
cause
obesity
when
children
spend
too
much
time
sitting
in
front
of
educational
videos
.
The report notes lack of playtime could even lead to depression in many children.
The
report
notes
lack
of
playtime
could
even
lead
to
depression
in
many
children
.
The report thinks the lack of playtime lies in the fact that parents want to have super-smart children and safe places for children to play is decreasing.
The
report
thinks
the
lack
of
playtime
lies
in
the
fact
that
parents
want
to
have
super-smart
children
and
safe
places
for
children
to
play
is
decreasing
.
A balance between free playtime and educational activities should be struck, the report states.
A
balance
between
free
playtime
and
educational
activities
should
be
struck
,
the
report
states
.
"In the current environment, where so many parents feel pressure to be super parents, I believe this message is an important one," said Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, the report's lead author and a pediatrician at The Children's prefix = st1 /HospitalofPhiladelphia.
``
In
the
current
environment
,
where
so
many
parents
feel
pressure
to
be
super
parents
,
I
believe
this
message
is
an
important
one
,
''
said
Dr.
Kenneth
Ginsburg
,
the
report
's
lead
author
and
a
pediatrician
at
The
Children
's
prefix
=
st1
/HospitalofPhiladelphia
.
Noted pediatrician, author, and presenter of cable TV's "What Every Baby Knows," Dr. T. Betty Brazelton agreed.
Noted
pediatrician
,
author
,
and
presenter
of
cable
TV
's
``
What
Every
Baby
Knows
,
''
Dr.
T.
Betty
Brazelton
agreed
.
"Children with structured activities" are missing the chance to dream, to make their own world work the way they want it.
``
Children
with
structured
activities
''
are
missing
the
chance
to
dream
,
to
make
their
own
world
work
the
way
they
want
it
.
That to me is a very important part of childhood.
That
to
me
is
a
very
important
part
of
childhood
.
(Natural News) Many parents have tried to gave their children a head start on education with get-smart videos and enrichment activities as early as infancy, but free play is often sacrificed, so the American Academy of Pediatrics says that the best medicine for busy children is an increase in traditional "playtime".  A number of studies suggest that unstructured play can help children become creative, discover their own interests, develop problem-solving abilities, and relate to others socially, according to a report prepared by two academy committees for release Monday at the group's annual meting. On the contrary, a lack of such playtime can create stress for both children and parents, and it can also cause obesity when children spend too much time sitting in front of educational videos. The report notes lack of playtime could even lead to depression in many children.  The report thinks the lack of playtime lies in the fact that parents want to have super-smart children and safe places for children to play is decreasing. A balance between free playtime and educational activities should be struck, the report states.  "In the current environment, where so many parents feel pressure to be super parents, I believe this message is an important one," said Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, the report's lead author and a pediatrician at The Children's prefix = st1 /HospitalofPhiladelphia.  Noted pediatrician, author, and presenter of cable TV's "What Every Baby Knows," Dr. T. Betty Brazelton agreed. "Children with structured activities" are missing the chance to dream, to make their own world work the way they want it. That to me is a very important part of childhood.