Everyone, children and adults alike, needs time to relax and play at home.
In Deep Play, scholar Diane Ackerman writes that for humans, “play is a refuge from ordinary life, a sanctuary of the mind, where one is exempt from life’s customs, methods, and decrees.” Hobbyists, gamers, and all sorts of other players know the surprise of time flying by unnoticed.
When players are “in the zone” this way, they enjoy a profound sense of competence whether they are six or 106.
Families that play together build warm, lasting relationships. Play allows family members to laugh together and to see each other in new ways. It lets them change roles, bend the rules a bit, and go where fun takes them. Kids love to see Mom and Dad step out of parental mode and become play equals.
Play at home can be child led or adult led. It can also be free—unstructured by adults. Whether playing outside with friends or dressing up for pretend, kids need plenty of time on their own to follow their imaginations, develop interests, and exercise their creativity.
Play time at home has become even more important in recent years because children are getting less of it elsewhere. In The Power of Play, David Elkind notes that over the last two decades, children have lost, on average, 12 hours of free time per week, including time for unstructured play and outdoor activities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says this about the importance of playing together as a family:
When parents observe their children in play or join with them in child-driven play, they are given a unique opportunity to see the world from their child’s vantage point as the child navigates a world perfectly created just to fit his or her needs. The interactions that occur through play tell children that parents are fully paying attention to them and help to build enduring relationships. Parents who have the opportunity to glimpse into their children’s world learn to communicate more effectively with their children and are given another setting to offer gentle, nurturing guidance. Less verbal children may be able to express their views, experiences, and even frustrations through play, allowing their parents an opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of their perspective. Quite simply, play offers parents a wonderful opportunity to engage fully with their children.
(A Clinical Report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006)
