In a recent article for The Conversation, Professor Patrick Lewis and Master’s student Whitney Blaisdell from the University of Regina, describe preliminary findings from their survey on play (or the lack thereof) during the pandemic, and provide recommendations on how to support play at home as we move forward into the new year.

The authors make the following recommendations for parents:

1. Prioritize your own wellness as it will increase the ability to be fun-loving and playful
2. Value play as it is important for learning, cognitive development, resiliency and joy
3. Set a tone for neighborhood play by allowing children more freedom in outdoor play
4. See children as drivers of play which increases children’s play stamina (and can relieve parents of always being involved)
5. Arrange a playful environment that is as safe as necessary and where outdoor access is easy, so children can freely roam and are drawn to playing outdoors
6. Get outside, because it is important for everyone’s physical, social, and emotional wellbeing!

Read the full article here.