Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. All opinions expressed here are my own.
When I was a child, playing outside was a way of life. We played outside our building in Brooklyn, just running around and jumping rope. We had this time to enjoy ourselves. We would play until it got dark and it was time to go inside.
We were always safe as our parents were around and we just got to be kids.When I look at this year’s generation, the amount of time that children spend in unstructured free play today has declined drastically. Common reasons for the decline include safety issues (strangers, crime, and traffic) and increasing time spent in school and on school work.
It is time for us to get our kids back to unstructured play. Unstructured pay is a set of activities that children dream up on their own without adult interference. This type of play does not have predetermined goals or objectives but instead allow children to create their own rules and establish their own limits.
I’m a part of a movement called The Genius of Play. It is a national movement spearheaded by the Toy Industry Association, with the mission to give families the information and inspiration needed to make play an important part of every child’s life.
The Genius of Play has identified 6 key benefits of play that are crucial to healthy child development.
The Genius of Play 6 Key Play Benefits.
- Improve Cognitive Abilities
- Hone Communication Skills
- Increase Creativity
- Process & Express Emotions
- Develop Physical Skills
- Enhance Social Skills
Spring is the perfect time for gardening- the soil warms up and the days grow longer.
Take advantage of these perfect conditions by planting some beautiful flowers in your backyard, and watch your garden grow! If you do not have access to a backyard, you can create your own planter in a small container and decorate (use a soup can, pencil holder, etc.)Please check out this cool video and see some of the great things.
Play can happen anytime, anywhere! Families don’t have to set aside separate time in order to play – it can be woven into any chore or routine activity. Get some tips from top experts on how to make even the most mundane moments playful!
I recently got a chance to speak with Anna Yudina, Director of Marketing Communications, Toy Industry Association and ask her some questions about were she sees this organization going.
- Why did you get involved with The Genius of Play? It is an important message in kids lives and society. We are not aware of the decline in play. Anna grew up in building with children playing outside. Kids are playing less than 8 hours than they did 20 years ago. It is the right time to change that and make a difference and get kids back to play.
- How do you think The Genius of Play can engage its audience? It can do so through it’s website and social media channels, you tube videos. We research the facts and present them as bite size information. We give parents tip videos that are under one minute. We show practical facts that allow you to engage in play. We are also attending conferences to educate everyone about the program.
- What do you hope to accomplish with The Genius of Play? We want to get children to play more. 88% of families does not consider play a priority. We want to help parents make the connection to play more and not feel guilty about it.
- What tools do you have for parents to use to integrate this philosophy into their lives? We have videos that educate parents and parallel them with how this can help with nutrition and have a balanced life. These tools show how play is a benefit in the overall help of your child.
- Where do you see this program in 2 years? We would like this program to be well known and a trusted website that builds awareness to play. We want to constantly help parents to engage and begin to work with the educational system to show them how play can be part of their everyday life.
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