The Impacts of Too Much Screen Time vs. The Benefits of Active Play for Early Years October 22, 2024 Why Is Play Important for Children? How Physical Playgrounds Support Child Development In a world where screen time is on the rise, studies show that children are increasingly missing out on the crucial benefits of active play. While screens might captivate and entertain, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no screen time for babies under 2 and no more than one hour of screen time per day for children aged 2 to 4. On the importance of play for young children, Dr Fiona Bull, Programme Manager in the Department for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, states: “Improving physical activity, reducing sedentary time and ensuring quality sleep in young children will improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing, and help prevent childhood obesity and associated diseases later in life.” An article by Carlota Nelson, Director of the documentary ‘Brain Matters’, posted on the UNICEF website, highlights the negative effects of excessive digital exposure for babies and toddlers. Babies need humans, not screens indicates that too much screen time is associated with: a shorter attention span poor focus and concentration reduced ability to manage frustration limited imagination impeded social skills lower empathy In this blog, we will focus on the importance of active play in early childhood, from physical benefits to cognitive, social and emotional development. Why Is Play Important for Children? The Crucial Role of Active Play in Early Years As mentioned, screen time detracts from activities that help boost a child’s brain power, like active play and interacting with other children. It has been shown that face-to-face interactions are the only way young children learn to understand non-verbal cues and interpret them. When we say ‘active play’, we do so in the context of the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Active play aligns with the EYFS goals of promoting physical development, as well as social interaction and emotional and cognitive growth: ‘Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, coordination and positional awareness through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults. By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional wellbeing.’ This is supported by NHS physical activity guidelines for children under 5 which underline the importance of age-appropriate physical play for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. What Are The Benefits of Play for Children? Physical Benefits of Active Play Encouraging energetic, active play can help a child’s physical development, including coordination, control and movement: Developing gross and fine motor skills Playground activities like climbing, balancing and swinging can help to build gross motor skills – and confidence in movement – which are critical in early childhood. Playground equipment – such as climbing frames, balance beams and swings – can also support the development of fine motor skills. Activities that involve gripping, pulling and coordination are a great way for children to control their physical movements. Promoting physical health Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the UK. Regular active play and movement can help combat this. Incorporating physical activity in childhood is also helpful in fostering lifelong healthy habits. From our freestanding exercise trail to climbing prisms and wooden adventure units, click to view our Early Years Freestanding Physical Development range. Social Benefits of Active Play Safe and age-appropriate playground equipment can positively impact children’s social and emotional development. This enables them to develop a positive sense of themselves and others, while learning how to manage feelings and behaviour in groups: Fostering social interaction Unstructured play is fun and allows children to explore and navigate social relationships. Playgrounds are natural environments where children can interact, collaborate, be creative and learn essential social skills, such as sharing, taking turns and compromising. Building emotional resilience A playground setting provides age-appropriate challenges, such as conquering a climbing frame. When children learn to do something novel, which requires a small risk, it helps them to build confidence and emotional resilience. From our play barn and team building table to our role play panel, click to view our Early Years Freestanding Personal, Social and Emotional Development range. Cognitive Benefits of Active Play When presented in an enjoyable playground setting, cognitive challenges encourage creative thinking and adaptability, enabling children to communicate thoughts and ideas. Enhancing problem-solving skills Playgrounds are ideal environments for children to engage in complex problem-solving and critical thinking. This might include figuring out how to navigate a complex climbing structure. Supporting language development Social play makes a significant contribution to language development. Children engage in conversations, learn how to express ideas and practice role play and different play scenarios. From chalkboards and sensory stages to play cafes and workbenches that inspire imaginative play, click to view our Early Years Freestanding Communication & Language range. The Crucial Role of a Well-Designed Playground A safe, thoughtful and well-designed play area can significantly contribute to ongoing positive outcomes for young children across the board. It is important to include diverse elements that cater to a range of play, encompassing active, social and sensory activities. Here at Educational Play Environment, our expertise in designing playgrounds for Early Years settings takes into account: Safety compliance with UK safety standards (BS EN 1176) Curriculum and the EYFS framework Accessibility Developmental needs of children Budget and value for money Call Us Today! If you’re considering investing in quality playground equipment for your Early Years setting, call us today for a no-obligation consultation with our friendly experts. Our playgrounds aren’t just about short-term fun and supporting early development. We design active play facilities that empower children through the adoption of healthy habits to last a lifetime. Call: 0808 168 2032 Email: info@educationalplayenvironments.com