Active play is a very important part of a child’s development. It is a means of learning about their surroundings, themselves, and also learning how to interact with other children of their age and even older children. Active play is so important for children and teenagers that it was listed as one of the basic child rights by the United Nations.
With increased pressure on children nowadays, the opportunities and available active playtime are becoming more and more reduced. This, however, is not a development that should be taken lightly, as a lack of active playtimes for children and teenagers might have negative consequences.
When children are not able to get involved in active play, they may start developing bad habits such as staying up late, being sedentary in general, and having difficulty maintaining healthy relationships with peers. Moreover, these negative effects can manifest themselves both mentally and physically. A lack of physical activity may lead to an increase in obesity levels and poor overall health.
Mentally, children might become more irritable and prone to aggressive behavior.
Therefore, parents, teachers, and other caregivers must ensure that children have sufficient time for active play in their lives. This may be done by providing opportunities for outdoor activities or local park trips where they engage in active face-to-face play.
