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What children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime, a U.S. academy report says. (File photo)
Photo Gallery >>> | BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Time for imaginative
free play is slipping away from American kids and what they really need for
healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime, a new report released
on Monday says.
The report by the American Academy of
Pediatrics suggests pediatricians add "stress checks" to
children's exams to ensure that overbooking of enrichment activities isn't
hurting their physical or mental health.
Many parents load their children's schedules with
get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a bid to help
them excel, and spontaneous, free play often is sacrificed in the shuffle,
according to the report.
Children need blocks, dolls, books, physical
play and, at all ages, "downtime," says report author Kenneth Ginsburg, a
pediatrician of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"A lot of pediatricians are seeing stress in children
with this kind of schedule. It's not true for all kids, but it is a serious
problem," Ginsburg says.
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, according to the academy report.
Parents should be urged to tailor activities to their
child's temperament rather than keep up with the Joneses' kid, the report adds.
Enditem
(Agencies)
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