Some Personal Perspectives

Dennis’ Perspective
Can kids be raised nowadays by working parents and have time and opportunity for free, unstructured play?  Hopefully kids should be raised that way, at least according to a just-released report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AAP (for a copy of the report, go to http://www.aap.org/pressroom/play-public.htm.)  The crux of the AAP report is that there isn’t enough free, unstructured play time for kids.  An interesting angle in the report is its premise that one reason for this is that parents have bought hook, line, and sinker, into the “enrichment economy” –the whole industry that has convinced parents that our kids need to master an instrument, excel at a sport, play the lead role in at least one drama production per year, dance ballet or some closely aligned form, take a year’s worth of SAT advance preparation courses, make mostly A’s, and win a science fair award or two along the way. Not just be good in a couple of things, but be good in one thing from Category A, one from Category B, one from category C, etc., etc. –and it seems there’s always another new category popping up.  And there is always someone, somewhere, ready to sell the perfect lessons or the perfect practice to make that happen. 

As the AAP correctly points out in its report, parents are so concerned about their kids achieving and building a resume – even at young ages –that any minute not doing “enrichment activities” must be wasted time.  Parents think that taking a few minutes off to “do nothing” –like just have fun and play unstructured –is a few minutes less that could apply toward something else, something that is an “enriching” experience.

As a parent, I'’m not sure quite what to do about this.  Yes, the AAP makes sense.  Even the college counselors in my daughter'’s high school tell us to back off –but then remind us of college info sessions the next morning at 7:30 a.m. and three or four more over lunch.  And what will happen on tomorrow'’s math test if you spend 30 minutes doing listening to music rather than studying tonight? The AAP report suggests that kids in fact might do better on that test if they studied a little less, not more to the point of the counter-productivity. Unrelenting study can bring about mind clutter and higher stress levels. 

While I understand the concept of more playtime, it’s hard to break the “enrichment” cycle.  You want the best, you want your child to have the opportunity to experience as many things as possible so they can find their passion.  But in the process, you find yourself on the brink of becoming a parent just like the one the AAP report talks about - –it'’s a fine line between experiencing variety and going enrichment-overboard.  If only, like a football game, there was an absolutely required half-time break.  I guess we just have to do it ourselves.

Dennell’s Perspective
Play is something I currently have very little of.  As I younger kid, I spent a lot of time playing, but fortunately not in today'’s high-tech sense of the word.  I preferred books, music, dolls, and backyard fantasies to videogames and Disney mania.  I have my parents to thank for this, and I now realize that I'’m pretty well off after missing out on Power Rangers and Super Mario.

But those carefree days are gone, at least for now.  The AAP report hits particularly close to home for me right now, since I'’m a high school senior tangled up in college applications, a varsity sport, SAT worries, Girl Scouts and homework.  If I had more unscheduled time, I'’d read, play music, walk around outside, write, talk to friends –I’d decompress.  Reading the AAP’s report was pretty frustrating – I wanted to scream, give it a hug, photocopy it, and send it to my teachers and coaches.  I wish the value of play could be institutionally recognized!

The report points out that not only kids benefit from play, but that parents-kids relationships benefit from play.  Letting kids play, whether outside on the playground or inside with solid, non-media toys, is a great de-stresser. And it might just help for parents to lighten up and join in the fun yourselves once in a while.  You might find it an interestingly enriching experience.