Playtime is healthy for kids

New York -- Allowing children to play more is good for their health and could help them manage stress better, say scientists.

Playing is essential as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well being of children, reported the online edition of health magazine WebMD.

"Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children," says Kenneth R. Ginsburg of the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP).

According to Ginsburg and colleagues, unstructured playtime fosters children's imagination and dexterity and helps them reach important physical, cognitive, and emotional milestones and manage stress.

In contrast, a loss of free time through over-scheduling of planned activities can be a source of stress for children and could lead to depression.

The researchers also emphasise the benefits of "true toys" such as blocks and dolls, in which children fully use their imagination, over passive toys such as video games that require limited imagination.

They also support an appropriate academic schedule for each child with a balance of extracurricular activities. This should be based on each child's unique needs and not on competitive community standards or need to gain college admissions.

"Be sceptical about claims by advertisers about products or interventions designed to produce 'super children'," warns Ginsburg.

The study stresses that each child does not need to excel in multiple areas to be considered successful and should be allowed to explore different interests freely.

"The challenge for society, schools, and parents is to strike the balance that allows all children to reach their potential, without pushing them beyond their personal comfort limits, and while allowing them personal free time," says the AAP report.