A Parents' Guide To Less Screen, More Play For Children

New Delhi: As technology is progressing, screens have taken over childhood. Gone are the days when parents made their children return home after a long day of outdoor play. Play is essential for early childhood growth and learning, and encouraging children to actively participate is critical to their overall development.

This is the idea behind the 'Bachpan Manao', an initiative by EkStep Foundation and NDTV. This social mission aims to improve early childhood learning through playful and engaging experiences that support holistic development.

Several people recognise the significance and impact of these early transformative years, as well as the value of playing more. Deepali Soam, an educationist and content creator, shares practical and fun ways for parents to reduce screen time and make room for more play. Here are some key tips Deepali suggests for parents to inculcate less screen and more play.

• Pretend Play: It involves roleplaying, which develops their imaginative powers and other life skills for future situations.
• Sensory Bins: These activities promote brain development and also encourage the development of various social skills.
• Drawing & Sorting: While simple and basic, these activities enhance the creativity of the children and their ability to think outside the box.
• Water Play: It's a great physical exercise that develops core strength and gross motor skills in the children.
• Free Play: Free play allows the freedom to explore and imagine, which helps in developing social and emotional strengths.
• Outdoor Play: Playing outdoors helps with the overall development of the children, which mostly focuses on the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being.

By consciously fostering pretend play, sensory exploration and creative arts, we can ensure our children develop the crucial life skills and creativity necessary for holistic growth and a joyful childhood. To make this further successful, it's vital that parents play their roles effectively while also engaging and connecting with their children on a regular basis! 

Take the pledge to ensure less screen, more play for your children. Log on to ndtv.com/bachpanmanao.