Summertime!

Time for Outdoor Play

by Christy Myers

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN a more needed time for our children to enjoy a summer of play! Children have not had full free play at school or at home, as many after-school activities were restricted during the pandemic. With months of learning using technology, it is important that we find alternatives for play that do not include a screen. Now that most activities are available for our families, we need to encourage our children to engage in free play where they are exploring, creating, pretending, imagining and learning from trial and error.

Whether is it riding bikes with friends or enjoying an afternoon at one of our local state parks, research shows that children learn by playing, and they learn in several different ways. The northshore is filled with amazing opportunities to explore. Examples include walking along the beautiful lakefront, renting canoes or kayaks, and having fun at the splash pads as well as exploring multiple indoor options in our area.

Play assists children with intellectual, social, emotional and physical development. “Now more than ever, our children need to experience all sorts of play. Summer is the best time to get outside and play or have your children participate in camps and activities that will bring them enjoyment and are just fun. Research indicates that brain growth happens more when children have free play opportunities. Play also helps children build social skills and a healthy self-esteem. So, let’s get out there and play with our kids this summer,” says Leslie Martin, principal of Marigny Elementary and president of the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany.

Christy Myers is the CCO of the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany. For more information, she recommends visiting: www.gse.harvard.edu/ news/uk/18/06/summertime-playtime.