The way children play has changed in various ways over the last 20 years. Some of the main changes we see:
Increased use of technology
Children today have much greater access to technology, including smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles, which has led to an increase in screen-based activities.
Increase in organized activities
Many children today participate in organized activities such as sports teams, music lessons, and academic enrichment programs, which can leave less time for free, unstructured play.
Safety concerns
In the last 20 years, concerns about child safety have led to an increase in adult supervision and a major decrease of the space children can explore on their own “roaming range”.
Changes in parenting styles
There has been a shift towards more intensive parenting styles, which can involve more structured activities and less free play.
Urbanization
With more people moving to urban areas, children have less access to natural environments, which can limit opportunities for outdoor play. The increase in number of vehicles has led to streets and parking lots overtaking public play spaces.
Changes in school curriculums
Many schools have cut recess and physical education in order to focus on academic subjects, which can reduce opportunities for children to engage in play. Because of staff shortage many schools have reduced breaks to 5 or 10 minutes.
Although technology and organized activities can be beneficial for children, too much of them can eliminate free play from their lives. To balance this, parents, teachers, and caregivers can find ways to provide children with opportunities for free play and to encourage them to spend less time in front of screens.
