It’s all too typical, little Jonah, age 7, attends soccer practice after school, followed by Karate in the studio at 5:30, and has a visit from his violin teacher at 7:00. In between lessons, Jonah is encouraged to practice and hone his many skills. His schedule is full of quality activities, but is it healthy?

According to a recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, today’s children are overly structured in their routines. Their findings indicate that this is actually detrimental to the child’s social, emotional, and even cognitive development.

One would think that all of that teaching in such a variety of areas would be great for a child’s development. However, there can be too much of a good thing. Without unstructured play time to imagine, relax, and socialize freely, little Jonah may actually struggle in aspects of his development.

Children who have unstructured playtime as a regular and consistent part of their routine tend to be better at managing stress and are more resilient to the negative influences of life, than children who have a great deal of structure.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that, “Whereas play protects children's emotional development, a loss of free time in combination with a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress, anxiety and may even contribute to depression for many children. The report reaffirms that the most valuable and useful character traits that will prepare children for success come not from extracurricular or academic commitments, but from a firm grounding in parental love, role modeling and guidance.”

In other words, play is a child’s work. Play helps prepare a child for healthy and successful adulthood. Adults seeking to advance their children and get them ahead of the curve must acknowledge the fact that relaxation and free time are an important part of ensuring a child’s overall success.