Doctors Advise: Ease Up On Your Kids

Pediatrics Academy Says Children Need More Unstructured Playtime

(CBS/AP)  Here's some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime.

Many parents load their kids' schedules with get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a drive to help them excel. The efforts often begin as early as infancy.

Spontaneous, free play — whether it's chasing butterflies, playing with "true toys" like blocks and dolls, or just romping on the floor with mom and dad — often is sacrificed in the shuffle, a new academy report says.

Jennifer Gervasio has a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter involved in preschool three mornings weekly, plus T-ball and ballet for each one day a week. That's a light schedule compared to her kids' friends, and Gervasio said her son in particular has trouble finding buddies who are free to come over and just play.

"There's just such a huge variety of things you can do for your kids if you have the resources, you almost feel why not," said Gervasio, of Wilmette, Ill. "There is a part of me that would worry if I don't sign my son up for some of these things, will he not be on par with the other kids."

For now, she says, she resists the pressure, instead allowing her kids plenty of time for looking for bugs, romping at the beach and other play activities they love to do.

"I truly believe that they're better off when they can just do their own thing," Gervasio said.

Even on Columbus Day, when most public schools have a day of, for Melissa Driscoll and her two daughters there was no rest.

"Our two Brownie troops are going to go to Agnes Farm and pick some vegetables and fruits. And it's part of our activity for earning our try-it badge," Melissa told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric.

Numerous studies have shown that unstructured play has many benefits. It can help children become creative, discover their own passions, develop problem-solving skills, relate to others and adjust to school settings, the academy report says.

"Perhaps above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood," says the report, prepared by two academy committees for release Monday at the group's annual meeting in Atlanta.

A lack of spontaneous playtime can create stress for children and parents alike. If it occurs because young children are plopped in front of get-smart videos or older children lose school recess time, it can increase risks for obesity. It may even contribute to depression for many children, the report says.

Social pressures and marketing pitches about creating "super children" contribute to a lack of playtime for many families. But so does living in low-income, violence-prone neighborhoods where safe places to play are scarce, the report says.

It says enrichment tools and organized activities can be beneficial but should not be viewed as a requirement for creating successful children. Above all, they must be balanced with plenty of free play time, the report says.

"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 Hospital of Philadelphia.

Noted pediatrician and author Dr. T. Berry Brazelton praised the academy's report.

"I hope it will have some effect," Brazelton said.

Children overscheduled with structured activities "are missing the chance they have to dream, to fantasize, to make their own world work the way they want it. That to me is a very important part of childhood," Brazelton said.

CBS' Charles Osgood summarized the report this way on his The Osgood File on Monday.

"Sometimes what kids may need is, yes,
"Not more parenting, but less."

[oleander8]

Parents today are too fearful to just let their kids have free-play. Thanks to the sensationalized media and crime shows on TV they don't allow their children to be outside unsupervised. You don't see children playing hide&seek, riding their bikes etc. If you see them outside at all - their parents are out there too. They think there's a pedophile or kidnapper just around every bush. The statistics don't justify the level of paranoia.

Add this to the profits of all those outfits with scheduled activities and you obese children that don't know how to entertain themselves.

[tonnie45]

I agree, there are alot of parents out there that do not allow much free time at all for their children. I feel that in order for a child to grow health they do need to be able to play with toys and get outside to run and ride bikes. Growing up I was not allowed to sit inside even on the weekend unless it was raining. No I did not play sports, but I loved to run around in the woods and just be a kid. It was great.

[apdepetris]

It's nice to see that you don't have to have your kids involed in every activity under the sun for them to be happy and healthy. We have 2 girls ages 3 & 6 and our general rule is one thing at a time. I've met parents that have their kids in different activities almost every day of the week. I don't see how they do it. Personally, I encourage my kids to go outside whenever possible to run and play on the swingset or ride bikes. Now I'm always outside with them to keep an eye on them (I don't agree with oleander8 on that point) but I don't think supervision restricts creative play. When they're inside I encourage them to go into their toy room to play creatively on their own. They do watch some TV but I don't encourage it except in the evening as some downtime before bed. All the kids in my neighborhood that seem to be on the heavier side are the ones that are in the house all the time rather than outside running around with the rest of the kids.

[j_flood]

I'm an American living abroad in Ireland. I find that here the kids are given more time to be kids. Play is not arranged, play is spontaneous - the way it should be. Maybe there could be more of this or that here, but kids seem less stressed and more likely to be 'kids'. Laughter seems easier to come by and heard more often than I remember when raising my youngsters. Unfortunately Ireland often copies American trends. The organisation of youngster's time is afoot here too. From tiny ones to teenagers the 'quality time' is getting infringed by organised events. We'll see how it takes.
John/Co. Wicklow/Ireland