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Health Check: The importance of play in childhood

Magazines & Reviews

Children playing

2019/12/25 GMT

The importance of play in childhood

BBC World Service - Health Check, The importance of play in childhood

Why play matters:  balancing time spent on video games with time outside, being active

Play is an important way for children to learn about the world around them.  What do children in India like to play, and how can parents encourage more outdoors play?

Parents all over the world worry about their children’s development and wellbeing. But how much thought do they give to play?  Psychologists  believe it’s crucial for our development and social skills. 

The new Play Well exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London looks at the significance of play in childhood and across society as a way of learning, expressing emotions and building empathy. Two schoolgirls give Claudia their verdict on the exhibition. 

Children from the Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai reveal what they like to play – and how it’s changed over the years. 

We hear from researchers about how much children’s letters to Father Christmas in the UK reveal about the history of play and how differently mothers and fathers play with their children. 

And how to solve the thorny issue of getting children off their computers and out to play – we hear evidence on how a balance can be achieved and some of the best ways to play to stimulate a child’s imagination and resilience.

Health Check was presented by Claudia Hammond

Producer: Geraldine Fitzgerald

(Photo credit:   hadynyah / Getty Images) 

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