Children Who Thrive: The Importance of Play for Development

Besides a child’s relationship with a caring adult, what do you think is the most important factor for brain development and good mental health? Is it adequate sleep, good nutrition or a great education? No, no and no.

The answer may surprise you: PLAY. A child’s drive to play is nature’s design for growing the brain and protecting emotional health. Often regarded as a luxury to be enjoyed when all the work is done, play is actually the priority over all other activities in our children and youth. But how can something so seemingly frivolous be so vital to development?

Put simply, play is a force. It is a primal, biological drive in all mammals. Play is pre-wired into our brains and must find its way to natural expression in children for them to build brains that can solve problems, take risks, feel and express emotion, and practise the myriad of soft skills required for success in life. 

As parents, play needs our protection more than ever. It is a threatened species of sorts in this age where packed schedules leave little room for downtime and screens offer entertainment in the guise of play. The decline in independent, free play is directly linked to reduced confidence and resilience in children and youth, and to an epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression.

So what can we do? First, we must start by understanding what play is – and isn’t – so that we can intentionally create more space for it in our children’s daily lives. Next, we can examine our family calendar and daily commitments to ensure that we are making room for it.

What does play look like in your child's life? How can you carve out time and space for them to experience the stillness and freedom that serves as the springboard to play? This week, take a closer look at your child's schedule and ensure there are "void moments"—times unfilled by structured activities or technology. It's these unstructured times that create conditions for play to emerge naturally in our children. Play is a vital developmental need, and we have the ability to protect the time and create the environments that nurture it.