In August of this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement regarding “The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children.” Although the statement is wide ranging, the essential take home message 

is this:  let kids play. Many who currently study play feel it is under siege, even as new research emphasizes its importance in children’s development. “We’re in a climate where parents are feeling like they need to schedule every minute of structured time, and 30 percent of kindergartens offer no recess,” said Dr. Michael Yogman, chair of the A.A.P. committee on psychosocial aspect of child family health and the lead author of the statement. To some, he said, “play is seen as irrelevant and old-fashioned.”

Brick By Brick also believes in the inherent value of imaginative play. Our programs foster critical collaborative skill building and executive function development with engaging and developmentally appropriate Lego projects; we always make time for creative free-building, too.

Play is the work of children. As adults, we need to ensure this essential time remains a part of every child’s schedule.

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Reference: View the New York Times article, “Let Kids Play,” and another regarding play called, “Taking Playtime Seriously.”