Kids Need More Time to Play

Kids Need More Time to Play! - Yolanda Pan (Third Grade, Coyote Creek Elementary School)

These days more and more kids take extra classes after they are dismissed from school because their parents want them to get into good colleges. From my point of view, children should have more time to play. Playing holds a very important place in childhood. 

One benefit of playing is that playing can help your physical health. For example, playing can strengthen your bones and muscles. One value of having strong muscles and bones is that you will grow tall and strong. Having fun also will improve your immune system, and you will not get sick easily. In addition, you will have remarkable eyesight, and hopefully, you won't become nearsighted (McCarthy, 2022). 

Another reason for play is that playing will help your mental health. Having fun can reduce your stress by releasing endorphins (Ludwig, 2021). Playing gets you tired which leads to good sleep. If you do not sleep well, you will not have the energy for the next day. Having fun will reduce your anxiety, give you confidence, and make you more comfortable around unfamiliar places. Playing also leads to having lots of good friends. Having fun will reduce the chance of getting depressed, and a good way to relax is to play with friends or family. 

Third of all, kids who play are more creative because they have experienced a lot of fun and different kinds of activities. As a result, their brain nerves will connect more (Why Creativity Matters, 2024). Also, their brain will develop more. As a result, they will be more imaginative. They also will be able to memorize information quickly. 

Most importantly, playing makes you happy. The kids who have a delightful childhood will have more chances to live a happy life in the future. When the children grow up, the ones that had a joyful childhood will feel more secure((Importance of Play in Early Childhood, April 1,2024) , so they will easily make good decisions. The kids with happy memories are more positive, so they will overcome difficulties with ease. The children that are cheerful can live more interesting lives. 

In conclusion, the world needs more healthy, creative, and happy people to propel social development, and playing can help us accomplish this goal. Kids' ultimate goal when they grow up is not limited to going to good colleges, earning lots of money, or having high social status. Instead, our goal is to find a job which we love as well as one that we are good at and to live a happy and fulfilling life. That is why playing is very important. Let’s go play together!

Reference List 

Importance of Play in Early Childhood | ECLKC. (2024, April 1). ECLKC. 

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/curriculum/article/importance-play-early-childhood 

Ludwig, M. (2021, March 19). How play helps: Calming Stress & Anxiety in kids + 6 activity ideas. Port Discovery Children’s Museum. 

https://www.portdiscovery.org/how-play-helps-calming-stress-anxiety-in-kids-6-activity-ideas/ 

McCarthy, C., MD. (2022b, December 15). Curbing nearsightedness in children: Can outdoor time help? Harvard Health. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/curbing-nearsightedness-in-children-can-outdoor-time-help-202212152 868 

Why creativity matters – and how we can nurture it. (n.d.). 

https://learningthroughplay.com/explore-the-research/why-creativity-matters-and-how-we-can-nurture-it \