Why you should take a closer look at your child’s playtime

MANILA, Philippines – Playing outdoors is one of the pillars of childhood – or at least, the kind of childhood that people in their 20s and older would remember.

But how about kids today? Check any playground or mall, and you’ll see young children with their tablets, laptops, and high-tech toys. The digital world has affected how adults work and relax, and the effect has trickled down to kids’ playtime.

With these gadgets, kids are learning faster, communicating better, and maybe even becoming more creative. But they aren’t as physically active as they should be.

According to a study on Metro Manila school children, which was conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), kids are moving less, and staying indoors more. On school days, children generally watched TV and movies, or played video games. On weekends, almost half of the surveyed kids watched television up to 4 times a day.

The DOST study also indicated that there is an emerging problem of being overweight among kids. Among students from the National Capital Region, 1% of children below 10 years old and 3% of adolescents below 17 years old were classified as overweight. In private schools, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 25 to 50%. A major reason cited was the kids’ sedentary lifestyles, coupled with poor diet choices.

What does this mean? Without enough active play, kids aren’t just prone to being overweight – their risk for cardiovascular disease also goes up. Being less active can also affect their disposition and energy levels in their classes. Health experts recommend at least 60 minutes of physical activity for children daily. Weekends and after-school hours are the best time to do these, when their energy levels are in need of a boost after the long day.

Kids need more playtime to stay healthy – and smart. Furthermore, letting them interact with their peers beyond classes can hone their social skills. Playground time is vital for kids because this is where they learn values such as teamwork, patience, resourcefulness, cooperation, and respect for others. These are things that aren’t easily taught inside the classroom or at home.

How can parents encourage their kids to get moving? Get them to play outdoors more. Bring them to the village park or playground, where they can meet friends and get exercise at the same time. Discourage them from bringing their tablets, and introduce them to outdoor games that they’ll definitely be excited to try.

Don’t forget that playtime can be exhausting, too. So when packing their baon in the morning, make sure to include nutritious baon: snacks and drinks that will give them strong bones and provide them with energy to last from the classroom to the playground.

Kids are predisposed to love playtime – it’s just a matter of showing them how fun it could be! Don’t let playtime – or healthy children – be a thing of the past. – Rappler.com