All Work And No Play Makes Jack A 'Depressed' Boy!

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Kids, who do not get enough playtimes in early childhood, tend to suffer from depression and mental illness in adolescence. About one in four young people battle a mental illness before they reach the age of 18. It is vital for children to learn resilience in their early years and this can be done effectively through play.

Children teach themselves to crawl, stand and walk through repetitious practice play. At the preschool level, children engage in dramatic play and learn who is a leader, who is a follower, who is outgoing, who is shy. They also learn to negotiate their own conflicts.

Play not only promotes social skills but children who receive an enriched, play-oriented parenting. Early childhood program have higher IQs at age five than other children deprived of such experience.

With technological development children have unintentionally moved indoors. Children who might once have enjoyed a pick-up game of football now watch the game on TV, sitting on their couch. With an increase in the number of working parents, children spend their free time in adult-oriented activities instead of childhood play.

Adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg conducted this study.