You are always playing and not studying. When I was young I gave so much importance to studies.” “The world is full of competition. The sooner you understand the better it is for your future.” “Go and study, you don’t have to go out to play every day!” These are the routine statements one gets to hear from parents of young children.

Constant comparison with peers and resulting pressure on children to perform at school is increasingly taking the best efforts of parents these days. Many times intentionally or unintentionally these pressures greatly sabotage children’s play or any available free time. One reason for this can be attributed to adults’ lack of awareness that children learn a lot through play; and that play provides them with the opportunity to actively explore, manipulate, and interact with their environment.

However a graver point of concern is the changing shape and form of play. Factors that lead to lack of pure and undisturbed natural play include excessive TV viewing hours and children’s obsession with video games. Then the fact that there is forever the need for constant supervision of children in urban environments, parents find it easier to let children amuse themselves indoors rather than taking out the time to take them to nearby parks. These factors contribute towards decreasing the imagination power of a child to create his/her own playing activity and look towards parents to provide entertainment. Sometimes even a room full of toys is not enough for the children, and one often hears children whining “I’m bored. Please can we go out today to the shop and buy new toys?”

Creative play is believed, by many child researchers, to form the foundation of emotional, creative, and intellectual growth in later years. Recent studies show that young children who do not receive sufficient nurturing, nutrition, parental interaction, and stimulus during their crucial early years, may be left with a developmental deficit that hampers their success in life. Equally importantly parents need to understand the importance of pure play and creative playing activities. Creative play is believed, by many child researchers, to form the foundation of emotional, creative, and intellectual growth in later years. It should be considered a normal part of a child’s development. It is important therefore that parents know how to balance electronic, programmed "play" with free, physical, creative play.

As parents you should be willing to be fully involved with your child’s creative play. It will benefit them in many ways.

The following are some ideas to encourage your children’s creative play: • Start them early; encourage them to play from the time they are young.

• Let them experience nature when possible. Let them play with the soil, the sand, or the water whenever you can.
  
• Let them climb trees, ride bikes, and play their own pretend games.
  
• Children often do best with simple toys, or even household items that are readily accessible (wooden spoons, pots and pans).
  
• Practical everyday objects of adults are always fascinating to children. They enjoy using the same things that the important people in their lives use – a lunch box like dad’s, earrings like mom’s, etc. So let them use the objects that are safe for them to use.
  
• Provide artistic opportunities for your child to express what he/she is feeling and value their effects. Don’t pass judgment on them.
  
• When you are in the garden give them something to do to help, e.g. provide them with a watering can so they can water the plants.
  
• Spend time with them in playing outdoor games. But, most importantly, don't ever force them into doing anything; else they will develop a dislike for those activities.
  
• Once they join school, encourage them to participate in school sports. Be there to cheer them when they are participating in any school sport activity and if they don't win any prizes, don't discourage them by criticizing them.
  
• Involve them in your household chores. Children relish being involved and love assisting in tasks such as sweeping, vacuuming, gardening, and cooking. Be patient with them and you’ll often get them started in their own role-play.

When children engage in free and creative play they are using their imagination to act out how they are feeling. Using their imagination in this way helps children to:• Explore their feelings as they learn to express themselves and provides the opportunity to let off steam;

• Develop empathy and consideration for others, as they experience being in someone else’s shoes;
  
• Develop listening skills and verbal communication from social interaction with other children;
  
• Gain perspective and learn what is real and not real.

It is really up to us as parents and caregivers to give our children the chance to prepare themselves for life as an adult in the best way possible. Indeed it’s the only chance that they’re going to get.