Make Time for Playtime!

March 2008

To coincide with the museum’s new exhibit Top Secret: Mission Toy, Nurse Rona Renner, host of the radio show Childhood Matters and the parenting expert for the Bay Area Discovery Museum, takes a look at the value of play for parents and kids alike.

Q. My kids are always complaining that they’re bored even though they do lots of activities. Any advice?

A. Maybe your kids are bored because they have too much to do, not too little. Children really need downtime. Even though music classes or after school activities can be fun and educational, kids really blossom when they have time to play and to simply discover what they want to do. 

Undirected play – what we used to call free time – encourages children to be creative and develop their imaginations. It also makes them more self-reliant, and helps them practice social skills or even work out things that might be bothering them. In fact, childhood professionals have found that:

            • Play helps children build healthy bodies
            • Play is essential for healthy brain development
            • Children actually learn how to learn while playing
            • Play becomes a fun way to connect with others
            • Make-believe play can increase cooperation, and impulse control.

Your kids may be complaining that they’re bored because they want some time with you, so make sure to – at least once in a while – throw yourself into their game. Play affords the opportunity for parents and children to engage fully and enjoy each other. Plus, it’s an important ingredient to positive discipline. If you spend time with your children, they are less likely to misbehave to get your attention. 

So make time for playtime; it can be fun for the whole family!

Rona Renner, RN, hosts the parenting radio show Childhood Matters, every Sunday from 9-10 AM on 98.1 KISS-FM. Have a question about parenting? Email asknurserona@badm.org