Some of our best memories as children originate from playing. However, as time goes on, children could be playing less, which could be negatively impacting their mental health. Current researchers are claiming that increases in children’s mental health issues could be at least partially due to a decrease in independent playtime.

While there are other factors that could be contributing to the increase in poor mental health in children, playtime allows children to use their imagination and express themselves. Children with less independent playtime have less time to explore different aspects of the world and who they are.

Read the full article here.

Emma Dineen

Research Assistant, UConn KIDS

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