In the Christian Broadcasting Network, Heather Sells asserts: “It’s no secret that many American kids are very busy with organized activities. But what psychologists now realize is that these jam-packed schedules can silence play. This lack of play is stunting emotional, behavioral and even intellectual growth… More than 25 years ago, psychologist David Elkind sounded the alarm in his book The Hurried Child. Now, he says the real danger is the loss of what used to be a childhood staple: free, unstructured play. “We learn through experience and through play children create new learning experiences that they couldn’t have in any other way,” Elkind said. The American Academy of Pediatrics puts some of the blame on schools — for cutting recess time. The academy believes that can negatively affect the ability to learn. Elkind says many college professors are aware of play-deprived students: they usually have little imagination or creativity, and their need for structure is so great that they often ask for daily homework assignments. “What play does is provide nourishment for fantasy, imagination, creativity,” Elkind said. “These are like muscles. If you don’t use them, you lose them.” Elkind says parents must enforce the exercise of these so-called “muscles.” “Many parents tell me ‘I have to put my kids in soccer or in Little League because if I don’t — there’s no one else in the neighborhood for them to play with — they’ll be by themselves.’ That’s fine — let them have some time for themselves!” Elkind said.
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