Most parents nowadays feel a pressure to constantly keep their children occupied.

Many parents even believe that their child’s every waking moment has to be organised and with a clear, educational purpose.

A psychologist, Dr David Whitebread from the University of Cambridge feels this is unnecessary.

According to him it is important that time is found in the week to give children free reign to play and choose the play they’re interested in.

He believes that parents should not overprotect children and force them to have certain interests, as trying to do so could be counter-productive.

According to Whitebread, children learn through risk and those that are deprived of nature and the opportunity for “risky play” – like climbing in trees or playing outdoors miss opportunities to learn to assess what’s risky and, if necessary, deal with the consequences.

He attributes the trend of children not playing outside or having very limited access to the outdoors and natural environments, to the rising rates of obesity, self-harm and mental health disorders diagnosed in children.

What type of play should parents encourage?

Whitebread believes that play does not have to be costly or organised. He also says that it doesn’t have to be clever, it doesn’t have to be complex, you just need to enjoy it, he adds.

He suggests that parents encourage their children to find something that gives them genuine enjoyment. He suggests that this ‘enjoyment is infectious and creates the right, emotionally warm environment for play and development’.

The most important thing is that the time spent playing should be quality time. Parents can take encourage their children to do something they love e.g. riding bicycles, playing football, playing hide and seek etc.

What are the benefits of play for children?

Whitebread says that play is incredibly beneficial for children. Physical play such as running, climbing and gymnastics can help a child develop their whole body and hand-eye co-ordination and is important in building strength and endurance.

Play also provides a crucial means for children to develop their emotional intelligence.

Playing with friends and family creates strong emotional bonds, and expressive awareness and through this type of interaction, children learn to be sensitive to others, and begin to establish their limits.

Scientific research has shown, surprisingly, that being in a family that has fun is a better predictor of school outcomes than early reading abilities.

Independent play in particular has been shown to be absolutely key developing the skills of independence and resilience.

What else do I need to know?

Whitebread lists the following general rules of play.

- As with all things, balance and moderation is important. Spending too much time playing video games or participating in sports will prevent a child from doing the range of other activities that is beneficial to them.

- Parents should try and be open to giving their children the widest range of experiences. E.g. expose your child to nature, this can be going to a park, an area with trees and vegetation, your village, the beach etc.

- Parents should try to give children as much independence as they can. This means allowing them to take risks and letting them get dirty.

‘They need to work out the rules of the world and boundaries, without you taking over,’ Whitebread adds.