Play with your kids

From The Age newspaper

A new study that found almost 50 per cent of kids don't play every day has prompted an expert's warning about a generation of depressed and anxious youngsters.

The study, hailed as the first of its kind in Australia, carried out a total of 1397 interviews, including 344 with children aged between eight to 12.

About 40 per cent of them said they don't have anyone to play with while 55 per cent say they'd like to spend more time playing with their parents.

and

"This finding highlights a concerning yet common misperception that many parents share - they dont think that kids need to play regularly after the age of eight," she said.

"In reality, active play is extremely important for eight to 12-year-old children as it is a critical development stage."

Dr Barrett also warned that parents and children could miss out on the opportunity for important bonding time that happens during play.

"Interestingly, kids are actually calling for parents to join them at playtime," she said.