THERE is no question that today’s children live a vastly different childhood from that of their parents. Now three-year-olds are already in kindergarten learning to read and write in preparation for a lifetime of academic ­achievement.

And as the child grows older, the schedule becomes more taxing which hardly leaves any time for play, a much-neglected but critical part of a child’s growing-up years.

Play should be one of the central activities in the lives of every child. Engaging in healthy activities not only promote physical and intellectual growth among children but also emotional maturity.

One of the best play activities for children (and even adults) is sport and games.

Parents should understand that play is not a waste of time and that a child needs to take a break from his/her hectic study schedule to relax and unwind. This will actually make the child become more ­refreshed and alert during the study period.

Key to child’s potential

Andrew Ng, founding member and consultant for the ­Selangor Association of Play & Expressive Therapy ­(Sapet), recognises the significance of play in a child’s life. Ng runs his own play therapy centre with various therapeutic exercises such as expressive arts, music and sand tray therapy.

According to Ng, play and sport are very important to the overall development of a child. One of the obvious key benefits is physical development.

Ng stresses that when children play, this allows ­muscles, bones and joints to develop, while at the same time, children learn to coordinate their body.

Another benefit, says Ng, is cognitive development where children are faced with decision-making during a challenging situation at play. “In play, a child is not only physically active, but also cognitively engaged in vital mental exercises.”

Engaging in such activities will ultimately improve the child’s cognitive thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills.

This therapist also cites emotional development as another key benefit of play. When children play, they express an array of emotions such as joy, excitement, awe, fear and sadness.

Hence, they learn to control their emotions and to deal with them in a more appropriate manner. At the same time, they also learn to be sensitive to the emotional needs of others and are taught to give and take.

In terms of social development, Ng adds that when playing in groups, children learn how to interact with other children, abide by rules and regulations and learn to reason.

He also feels that children will learn to take the lead or follow orders all in the name of team spirit through play.

He concludes that through play, children will also discover more about themselves which helps to build their confidence. This is certainly vital to prepare them for the working world in future.

Benefits of sport » Sport promotes alertness, enhanced concentration and attentiveness in class. » Children who exercise from young are more likely to adopt this healthy habit till they grow old. » Sport teaches children to be more disciplined. They learn that if they work hard and stay focused on the task at hand, they can achieve their dreams. » Sport can help children to have better confidence and self-esteem. In the long run, this will help them face their fears and not be afraid to achieve their goals in life. » Sport will also help steer children away from drug and alcohol abuse as they will be more aware of the importance of safeguarding their health.