Longest Day of Play
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and has been designated the “Longest Day of Play.”
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers
Mr. Rogers is right – play, especially unstructured play, is important for children’s mental, emotional and physical development and growth. Play has the power to stimulate the mind, strengthen the body, and develop problem-solving skills, cooperation, wonder and imagination. When kids play together they learn teamwork, dialogue, cooperation, conflict resolution, and how to be a leader and a follower.
Regular physical activity is also important for overall health. Getting active helps improve sleep quality, brain health, cognitive thinking and reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease. Experts suggest children strive for 60-minutes of physical activity daily.
