Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. All  opinions expressed here are my own.

 

When I was a child, playing outside was a way of life. We spent our days outside our apartment building in Brooklyn running through the neighborhood and jumping rope, until it got dark and it was time to go home for dinner. We felt safe with our parents close by, and most importantly- we just got to be kids.

Unfortunately, in today’s fast paced, tech-driven world, unstructured free play has drastically declined. Many attribute this decline to increasing safety concerns and the rise of time spent in school, participating in after school-activities and doing homework.

It is time for us to get our kids back to just being kids! Unstructured play is essential for healthy childhood development, and can include any set of activities where this is no adult interference. This type of play does not have predetermined goals or objectives, but rather allows children to create their own rules and establish their own limits.

Play is so much more than fun and games – it is essential for children to reach healthy

physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developmental milestones. I am proud to be part of a growing national movement called The Genius of Play, who’s mission is to give families the information and inspiration needed to make play an important part of every child’s life.

The Genius of Play has identified 6 key benefits of play that are crucial to healthy child development.

The Genius of Play 6 Key Play Benefits

1. Improve Cognitive Abilities
2. Hone Communication Skills
3. Increase Creativity
4. Process & Express Emotions
5. Develop Physical Skills
6. Enhance Social Skills

It is important to remember that play can happen anytime, anywhere! Families don’t have to set aside separate time in order to play – it can be woven into any chore or routine activity.

 

I recently got a chance to speak with Anna Yudina, Director of Marketing Communications at the Toy Industry Association and the Genius of Play champion. I asked her some questions about the power of play and the Genius of Play’s vision of the future.

       Why did you get involved with The Genius of Play?   

 

1. Sadly, today’s kids play 8 hours less every week than they did 20 years ago. It is time to educate the public on the importance of play and the vast benefits of including daily play into their often overscheduled lives. The Genius of Play’s mission is to bring play back into kids’ lives, and I am very proud to be a part of this movement.
2. The power of play in childhood development is an extremely important message to get across to parents, teachers and caregivers alike. All too often, play is pushed to the side as life’s daily stresses get in the way Without the space or time for daily play, your child could be missing out on crucial moments to learn. Personally, I grew up in a neighborhood where children (including myself!) were always playing outside. I still remember the friendships I made, and the excitement and joy of being physically active, while taking in the wonder of discovering the nature and the world.

• How do you think The Genius of Play can engage its audience?

 

1. We engage with parents through our website – www.thegeniusofplay.org – and social media, continuously offering new ways to incorporate play into their child’s daily lives – and sharing new research and expert advice to showcase why play is so important for healthy childhood development. The Genius of Play provides busy parents and caretakers with expert advice from educators to psychologists to pediatricians and beyond. We also offer easily accessible and digestible play tips and ideas based on children’s age and developmental stages. These resources enable busy families to use the power of play to help raise a happier, healthier, and more successful next generation

The Genius of Play team also attends numerous conferences to engage one on one with educators and play advocates, as well as consumer events like Play Fair and ChiTag where we can meet directly with parents and share information on the developmental benefits of play as well as seasonal play ideas.

        What do you hope to accomplish with The Genius of Play?

 

1. Our mission is to provide families with the information and inspiration needed to make play an important part of their child’s daily life.

We recently conducted research and discovered that 88% of parents do not consider play to be a priority in raising their children. Although they reported that they view play as fun, they do not always think about its benefits for the child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Our hope is that families will embrace play more and more, not just as a fun and joyful activity, but something that is absolutely essential to raising a well-rounded child.

          What tools do you have for parents to use to integrate this philosophy into their lives?   

There is always new information and tools coming out about play, but the important thing we want all parents to remember is that play is ALL AROUND US! You just need    to  be willing to jump in and encourage your child to play on a daily basis, whether it is structured or unstructured play – there are a multitude of benefits to be had and children need a variety of different types of play for optimal development.

1. The Genius of Play website – www.thegeniusfplay.org – offers quick, accessible and actionable play ideas to get your creativity flowing, as well as expert advice on the power of play and the developmental benefits of each type of play. We offer an age-by-age toy and play guide as well as cool toy picks of the latest and trendiest skill-building toys available today. Our YouTube channel also features a variety of videos and expert tips full of practical advice for parents.

• Where do you see this program in 2 years?  

 

1. In the future we would like to see The Genius of Play become a well-known, trusted, go-to resource for parents to learn about the importance of play and access easily actionable ideas on how to incorporate play into their children’s daily lives. We are also looking to work with the education system on ways to incorporate more play into early childhood education, such as incorporating play into curriculum, ensuring children get the adequate amount of daily play, and encouraging teachers to utilize play as a key educational tool.