In the era of gen alpha and digital dominance, it is essential to engage them in physical activities so that their bodies stay active. Children these days spend most of their time indulging in gadgets or other types of screens which results in sluggish body movements. Hence integration of active play in their daily life becomes extremely significant. Active play is any type of physical movement such as running, jumping, climbing, etc. These physical sports not only help keep the body active but also help in the mental, emotional, and physical development of children.
Here is why active play is important and beneficial for kids:
- Develops Stamina and Physical health:
Active play plays an important role in developing stamina in children. Games such as running, skipping rope, climbing, and cycling can help improve the stamina of the children. The ability to sustain prolonged efforts, both mentally and physically helps the children in increasing their endurance level and it also contributes to developing strong bodies and sound minds from the right age. Additionally, it boosts skills like balancing, flexibility, and coordination reducing health-relating risks as well. When kids are involved in active play from a young age, they are more likely to adapt to a healthy physical lifestyle even when they grow old.
- Polishes Social Skills:
Children nowadays do not like interaction, they prefer staying comfortable in their bubble. Active play for kids engages them in activities that require teamwork. Through playground games and team sports, kids learn many social and communication skills such as conflict resolution, teamwork, and communication. These exchanges are important for establishing friendships and developing empathy in order to build foundation for healthy relationships as they grow older.
- Boosts Mental Development:
Physical activities also help in boosting mental health. They help stimulate functions of the brain, enhancing focus, muscle memory, problem-solving skills, and memory. Games like soccer, basketball, and cricket contribute to teaching kids various interpersonal skills like quick-decision making, coordination, and information processing. Hence, children involved in games are more likely to have a strong and fit mind and one of the world’s treasure as it is said that “a healthy mind is the greatest treasure to find”.
- Creativity and Imagination:
Games like fort-building, charades, and playing pretend are unstructured and imaginative activities that are also part of active games which help broaden the creative skills of children as they come up with various ideas to make their leisure time more exciting and engaging. These sports involve originality that fosters a sense of adventure and curiosity in the children when they think outside of the box imagine new probabilities and find innovative ways to solve a problem, exploring a whole new world without strict guidelines.
- Building Confidence:
Games with physical challenges such as wall climbing, cycling, bouldering, parkour, and obstacle challenges help in building confidence and resilience in children as they teach the kids important principles of life like success, failure, and preservation, boosting the self-esteem of children from a young age which encourages them to take on new challenges. Participation in these kinds of activities leads to building self-confidence, as they trust their ability to assess risks and find a suitable solution.
- Reduces Stress:
Physical activities also help children reduce stress and help in improving their mood by providing the kids an outlet to burn off their energy and release pent-up frustration and emotions that they find hard to express. The release of endorphins (happy hormones) from the reduction of stress and anxiety then lightens their mood, making them happier with a balanced mindset. Games like paintball, hopscotch, tag, and hide-and-seek help in releasing cortisol (stress hormones) thus improving the mood.
In a nutshell, active play is a crucial part of children’s growth and development as it helps solidify the foundation of a well-balanced, happy, and satisfied life. So, let’s give priority to active play and help our kids shine bright!
