Children and Play Time

It is understandable that with increasing competition there is hardly any place you want to see your child but the study table. But games can be extremely stimulating

There was a time when play time for children solely comprised of playing different types of indoor and outdoor games. Games such as ludo, snakes and ladders, carom, and a host of card and board based games were available to them. Their minds would get some valuable exercise from games such as Battleship, Scrabble, Monopoly, Chinese checkers, Pelmanism, and Chess. The creatively inclined children would spend quality time playing with building blocks, do-it-yourself toys, and construction sets.

If indoors were fun then outdoors were exhilarating. Hide-and-Seek, Hopscotch, Jump rope, and Frisbee would drive kids crazy. Other immensely popular local games were playing marbles, pitthoo, gilli danda, and kite flying. But cycling, badminton, cricket, and football were the favourites.

Benefits

Both indoor and outdoor games greatly contribute in the overall development of children. Indoor games enhance psychomotor coordination, analytical and reasoning skills. They also help build the memory and vocabulary of players. Outdoor activities on their part help children boost their physical strength and endurance. Games also instil in them the spirit of healthy competition and teamwork. Sometimes children do not play any particular game. Rather they spend their time in free play or playing games they have developed on their own. This generally improves their lateral thinking and creative prowess.

Games Now

Now-a-days the concept of games has changed drastically. The digital media has replaced the time children earlier used to spend playing indoor and outdoor games. Children now draw satisfaction and pleasure by playing T.V. or console based video games. Also, children are glued to the innumerable cartoon shows aired on television or games available on the Internet and mobile phones. 

Neeraj is 11 years old and he likes to play a lot. As soon as he is back from school, he starts to play with his toy construction sets. Once he is through with them, he goes out of the house to play cricket with children in the neighbourhood. He comes back home just to deposit the cricket gear in his room and is off again for cycling. His mother has to run after him in the colony to get him back into the house just before his father returns from office. His mother says, “I simply do not know how I can limit his game time. He simply does not want to do anything else except play games.” Nevertheless, Neeraj complains, “I never get enough time to play all the games I want to play.”

For some parents the game time is a pain whereas for other it is a means to improve the physical and mental capabilities of their children. But playing is essential to a child’s growth. So how do we go about it?

The following are few steps you can take to manage the play time of your child:

Allot a Time

• Daily Activity – Ensure that playing games is an integral part of your child’s daily routine. It is good to have a daily routine for your child whether he is a toddler or a teenager. Make game time an integral part of this routine and follow it. According to a study grown ups who did not play any games during their childhood often developed a disruptive personality.

Observe the types of games your child likes to play. Whether he is fond of indoor or outdoor games? Does he like to devote his free time playing games that challenge his mind or test his physical endurance? Does he prefer cricket to playing chess and so on? Encourage him to play the games he is fond of. As parents take out time from your busy schedule to actively, participate in the games your child likes to play.

• Quality Time – Game time should be fun time for your child. Do not force your child to play the games of your choice. Game time is an important aspect of your child’s growing up. Let him decide what he wants to play. Just keep an eye that they do not stretch this quality time beyond a certain time period.

Other Advantages

• Escape from Boredom – Play time is the best escape from boredom and monotony. Lot many children wile away their time doing nothing at home. Some others waste their time watching television or playing various kinds of video games. Such children often suffer from issues obesity, depression, and boredom. Subtly inform your child about the harmful effects of watching too much T.V. or playing digital games. Instead coax your child to utilise his spare time in playing indoor or outdoor games. It is one of the best ways of countering boredom and depression.

• Sports Career – Games can lead to successful career options. This might sound strange but the games your child likes to play may pave the way for a successful career. It is often observed that famous sports personalities have build their glorious career upon the games they played as children.

• Other Uses – Game time as a tool for enhancing skills. Games do wonders for children who are physically weak or are recovering from any illness. Children suffering from a mild form of flat foot have benefited a lot by playing outdoor games and going through obstacles courses set up in parks. Various memory and word games can be used to enhance the mind power and vocabulary skills of your child.