As adults, most of us rush around at break-neck speed from the time our feet hit the floor in the morning until we fall into our beds much too late that night. We are in one big hurry after another and all for what? We think that all this “progress” has created a nation of happy busy people. But are people really happier? If they were, there probably wouldn’t be so much road rage and short-fused tempers around. The unfortunate aspect is that it doesn’t just stop with adults. We rush our children around just the same.

Think about how many times you may have seen your youngster stop to look at pretty flowers and you quickly prompt them along. Or the pre-teens and teens that have so many activities scheduled each week that the families need fast food restaurants and calendars to make it through. We live in a society where we have come to think that more equals better. But that’s not necessarily true. And it wasn’t always like this. At one time, families spent more time together, children played freely without the stimulation from electronic entertainment, and the pace we lived our lives allowed for much more interaction and family time, including eating meals together.

While it may seem like keeping the kids busy by rushing them all over town is a good idea, done on a regular basis it can actually be harmful. We parents need to re-think what we are doing as we start our day, especially after considering the facts.

Too Much, Too Fast

“America’s youth are experiencing an emerging new problem: over-scheduling and a rushed lifestyle,” explains Dr. Maria Kelly, a pediatric professor at the University of Florida. “These pressures have the potential to cause tremendous stress that is potentially damaging, not only to a child’s physical health, but also their psychological well being.”

Those pressures can come in several forms, including over-scheduling of extracurricular activities, the impact of rushed families, peer pressures, and even elevated parental expectations, according to Dr. Kelly. Further, those pressures are starting at an increasingly early age and they threaten individual children, families and society itself. What children need is more free play and less electronic stimulation and rushing around.

Wanted: Play Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agrees that too much can be harmful. They report that play is essential to child and youth development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being. They also note that despite the benefits of play, it has been greatly reduced over the years for some children.

When children engage in play, they are building skills that can be used over their lifetime. They get to use their creativity, imagination, and emotional and physical strength. It helps them create, explore and learn about the world the live in, while also gaining decision-making skills.

The problem in children getting enough time to play, according to the AAP, is that they are hurried to adapt into adult roles and prepare for their future at earlier ages. This comes as a result of parents who receive messages that a child that has a full plate of activity and is exposed to many different things will be more successful. In a parents attempt to make a ‘well-rounded’ child, the result is they may be stifling the development process. Additionally, the AAP reports that the hurried lifestyle is a source of stress for some children and it could contribute to depression.

“Not only is play essential to the best success for adequate child development, it also creates an ideal opportunity for parents to engage with their children,” says Dr. Kelly. “Some of the best interactions of parents and children occur during downtime – talking, cooking together, playing sports together, working on an art project, or just being immersed in their child’s play.”

Slowing Down

While we may not be able to do much about some of the obligations we have in our lives, such as our jobs or going to school, there is time we can free up to encourage more good old fashioned free play. Even if you have specific days or times set aside for it, they will benefit. Other good options of things to do with your kids to encourage play and interaction include:

• Having a family game night.

• Encouraging unstructured time for allowing the child to determine what they want to play with.

• Reading, whether together or separately but at the same time.

• Write a story with your child.

• Using the imagination to do art projects, draw, play with clay, or paint. Or get some sidewalk chalk and let them create pictures on the ground.

• Take a nature walk on the beach, around the block, or on a trail to stop, look and talk about what you see, hear and smell.

• Bake something together.

• Play blocks, dolls, or other simple toys with your child that require using the imagination.

Finding Balance

The hustle and bustle of our daily life is not likely to see major changes overnight. But it’s really about finding balance, slowing down, and giving children a chance to develop. Before they know it, their childhood will be behind them and we don’t want what they see when looking back to be a blur because it went by at such a fast pace.

“To balance the high-pace of our current lifestyles, it is essential that parent’s recognize the importance of unscheduled time for their children to experience free play,” adds Dr. Kelly. “It is also imperative that they interact with their children during this important time. It is through these activities that their children will be most successful at developing the feelings of love, safety, and security that will help them be emotionally and psychologically competent, so they can thrive and succeed in an increasingly high-paced world.”

JACQUELINE BODNAR is a freelance writer that lives in Port Orange, Florida with her husband and two children.