The Philippine Online Chronicles

As a child, I remember summer days filled with happy play. I climbed trees and made “mud pies” out of real mud. I wore a crown of leaves on my head, just like the little boy from Shel Silverstein’s story The Giving Tree. I played patintero with the neighborhood kids on the street with boxes drawn, not with chalk, but with broken pots. Together, we would run around the village ringing doorbells randomly then hiding to see what people would do.

When the sun would set and I’d make my way home, my mom would greet me with “Naku, anak, ang dungis mo! Amoy grade one ka na naman! Maligo ka na!” (Oh dear, you’re so dirty! And you smell bad! Go take a bath!) On rainy days, I’d invite my friends over and we would play with Barbie dolls or dress-up.

Through all the scraped knees, matted hair and stained-beyond-repair clothing, never did my mom discourage me from exploring my world.

As I got older, however, I discovered video games and VHS tapes. I also discovered Sweet Valley and other teeny-bopper books. Soon, I was consumed by Super Mario, Zelda and the brick game. The rest of the time I spent reading. Outdoor play was pushed to the back burner and no longer appealed to me. Not long after, my love affair with obesity began.

Today, even children at very young ages are already glued to their computers, PSPs and similar gadgets. When I take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood, I don’t see many children playing the games I used to play. The streets have no trace of drawn patintero boxes. There are no more cans littered on the street, dented in areas where the tsinelas (rubber slippers) hit them too hard while playing tumbang preso.

The carefree laughter and sounds of children playing in the streets are barely whispers now. Playground swings are left lonely for most of the day. At times, I see kids sitting in swings with their yayas but they are merely sitting while playing with a handheld video game. Rather than exploring their playgrounds or open spaces, they are busy building farms online or playing similar games.

Too busy to play

Children today have to contend with a more rigorous and content-filled academic curriculum, leaving little time for play. In some highly competitive schools, children as young as three or four are already expected to complete workbooks and textbooks through the school year.

Add to this all the other enhancement programs they are enrolled in, such as tutorials and after-school activities. While there is nothing wrong with these programs, it does take away time from children to play and limits this essential activity to weekends only.

“Naku, dirty!”

One reason why children are not allowed to play outdoors is the notion that it is unhealthy and dirty. As a preschool teacher, one of the comments I cringe at most is that of mommies and yayas (nannies) exclaiming, “Naku, dirty!” in order to stop a child from playing. A close second is when they tell the kids to play “carefully” because they will get messy. While they may be correct, they take away valuable experiences from a child.

Although there are still outdoor playgrounds for children to enjoy, it cannot be denied that the increasing crime rate, poor air quality and other similar dangers have made parents less comfortable about letting their kids play outside. An increased concern for smooth legs free from cuts and scrapes further discourage parents from allowing their kids, especially their daughters, from playing outdoors. Health and safety concerns, for one, are a reason why fewer kids get to play outdoors now.

A little dirt won’t hurt

Looking at children today, there is a higher prevalence of obesity. They also are less healthy because they are kept “too clean”. Research shows that exposure to some germs may not be as unhealthy as parents think. In fact, kids kept in too sterile environments filled with antibacterial soaps, cleaning aids and antiseptics can have weaker immune systems compared to those who are allowed exposure to a tolerable amount of pathogens.

More than just a game

Besides acting as an immunity booster, children learn a myriad of skills and gain a wealth of experience through outdoor play. Outdoor play contributes to the holistic wellness of a child, such as fostering health benefits such as preventing obesity and encouraging emotional and social growth.

According to Trina Fernando, a former preschool teacher and lecturer of Developmental Psychology in De La Salle University, “Play fosters physical, cognitive and social development. When they play, gross and fine motor skills are practiced.” For young children, outdoor play allows children to master emerging skills.

Play is an “absolutely necessary activity for all children" says Dr. Boboy Sze Alianan, a Clinical Psychologist who does play therapy with children of different ages and needs.  He explains that it is “a developmentally appropriate means that children are able to learn new skills and to integrate prior experiences in a way that is relevant to them”.

Through play, important developmental tasks which children are expected to master are met. According to Erik Erikson, individuals experience a set of conflicts that must be resolved in order to result in a favorable outcome throughout their lifespan.

In early childhood, for example, a child is faced with the conflict of autonomy versus shame and doubt. During this stage, a child learns to master skills and build autonomy as they explore their bodies and their world. When they reach the Play Age, at around three to five years old, children face the conflict of Initiative vs. Guilt where they discover their purpose as they take the initiative through play situations. Here, a child can play out roles and try out solutions that may or may not work. They learn how their world operates.

Through play, they are able to explore, take risks and make self-discoveries. They also learn to be autonomous and make decisions for themselves. Play allows children to understand why rules exist and how to engage in proper social behaviors.

Outdoor play is known to contribute to a child’s learning process. According to Teacher Trina, play “encourages children to imagine thereby strengthening other cognitive skills such as abstraction, attention and memory”. They are able to learn the basic competencies needed for higher ordered thinking and learning. For example, by keeping score while playing games, they can learn math skills.

Play contributes much to a child’s communication skills. Through play, they are given opportunities to discuss and share ideas. By doing so, they are able to exercise their reasoning skills and also learn how to effectively communicate to others verbally without resorting to tantrums or similar acting-out behaviors.

Life lessons from tree tops and sandboxes

More than just the physical and cognitive benefits of play, outdoor play helps in one’s emotional and psychological development. In an article about the importance of outdoor play, Anita Britt, PhD, pointed out that, through outdoor play, kids gain a sense of mastery and competence.

Play experiences also contribute to their sense of confidence. As such, this can be a boost to their self-esteem and allow them to feel better about themselves. Dr. Alianan further points out that "When children play, they are themselves.  They are free to express what is within them in a spontaneous manner.  As they interact with their environments in play, they are able to validate their inner experiences."

Many of life’s important lessons can be learned while playing in the sandbox. In my many years as a preschool teacher, I have seen many great things happen in the sandbox. Here, friendships are formed and arguments settled. In many ways, the sandbox is much like the real world, only from a kid’s point of view.

Play teaches children the value of responsibility. They also begin to realize life skills such as integrity, honesty, cooperation and perseverance. Group games foster teamwork.

Albeit outdoor play may pose certain dangers, particularly to the physical well-being of a child, the benefits outweigh the risks. Playing on see-saws or climbing the monkey bar may inadvertently cause injuries such as broken bones or concussions. Accidents do happen. However, if monitored properly, play can make for a happier and healthier child.

As adults, we still look for ways to play. Although our outdoors may have changed, the concept of play is still very important for our mental health and wellness. What more for kids? Play, in its purest form or essence, is really a child’s work. This is where they become who they are.

Photos by Ria Tirazona. Some Rights Reserved.

Maria Andrea (Ria) S. Tirazona, M.S. (cand.), popularly known as Yapatoots in the online blogging and social networking community, is a preschool teacher at Playschool International and part-time lecturer at the Psychology Department of De La Salle University. She is also an Associate Psychologist at PsychConsult, Inc, where she specializes in Psychological Asssessment.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Family Life and Child Development from the University of the Philippines and is a thesis shy of completing her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at the De La Salle University. In her spare time she maintains several blogs, including www.theaccidentalteacher.com, www.fatgirlnomore.com and www.yapatoots.com.