Posted September 4, 2009
I found a great article in the New York Times recently by Stuart Brown on the decline of active play in children's lives and the beneficial, even essential influence of play on human development. Without play a child cannot grow up to be a normal, healthy adult. And of course, toys are an agent of play and the normal, healthy development of the human spirit and psyche. A University of Michigan study found that Children now spend half as much time playing outside, as they did 20 years ago, and instead they spend on average over 6 hours each day with electronic media, and in front of some kind of electronic screen. Not outside and not playing with toys. I am concerned about that, as I'm sure many are. In the article Brown makes the case that there is a connection between less time playing outdoors and the great increase in childhood obesity, ADHD, childhood depression and other social maladies in school age kids. Can it be that toys and play are just what the doctor ordered for a healthy, well adjusted child? If that can be shown, then we, the TIA, and our industry should be shouting from the rooftops the importance, the critical and extraordinary benefits children reap from simply playing with toys. As Brown suggests, we need a “Change in public consciousness about Play - to show that it is not trivial or elective.” This change in public perception and awareness on the critical importance of play can and should start with the toy industry, toy companies, and other toy industry practitioners. Play is important. Extremely, critically, essentially important to the health of a child, and the health of the adult each child will become. Toys engender, inspire, and enable play.
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