Play Isn't Just Fun, It's Science: Dr Zirak Marker

“We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

                                                                                                                              - George Bernard Shaw

Experts consider the first 3000 days of a child's life as the most crucial period. Highlighting this vital timeframe, initiatives like Bachpan Manao by NDTV and EkStep Foundation highlight that during this duration, the child develops an emotional quotient (EQ), Intellectual Quotient (IQ), and physical capabilities. In this technological age where devices hasten the process of essential development, it becomes crucial to emphasise traditional learning and playful patterns for the child. Engaging learning and active participation in physical, creative and cognitive exercises ensures a child's holistic development.

Highlighting the significance of play, Dr Zirak Marker, a Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychiatrist, said that 90 percent of one's learning and neuronal development happens because of a concept called 'Neuroplasticity'.

Dr Zirak Marker, Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatrist, said,

This phenomenon is completed approximately 90 per cent by the age of 5-6 years.

He further said that learning isn't restricted to academics and linguistics; it develops through physical development, energy building, balance and motor skills. The child develops the ‘pre-reading and pre-writing', which develop further into their education, their curiosity, and their motivation to learn, these are all driven by dopamine, the “happy hormone” play releases. He added, 

Playing at an early onset leaves with so many beautiful learnings.

With that being said and done, there sure are some elements that prove to be of utmost importance while engaging with kids between the ages of 0-8 years as parents (you might want to look out for these).

According to Dr Marker, there's a certain set of essentials that are required to be taught to children in the ‘Parenting Starter Kit'.

For one, expert and parental advice pertains to agreeing on a common conclusion, it is imperative to teach the kids the importance of failing. They need to know it is not always about the win, Dr Marker stated, they need to learn from failure too.

Secondly, it always comes in handy to be equipped with anger management skills. It helps the child with conflict resolution and team-building.

Third, and the most important lesson we need to teach the kids as parents, as educators and as stakeholders in the child's life is to be kind, empathetic, gentle, creative and open not just towards each other, but also towards nature and all its elements.

All of these, no matter how spoken about and no matter how repetitive, are essential for the child's physical and mental growth and health. In recent years, children, even 9-10-year-olds, are being diagnosed with chronic illnesses, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, stress and much more. So, to avoid these extreme circumstances, let children be children, let play drive them.

Thus, by consciously prioritising foundational experiences, minimising screen exposure and academic pressures, one can empower their children to develop resilience, empathy and a genuine eagerness for learning, ultimately fostering a generation that is not only academically capable but also emotionally adept and physically capable.

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