Children in poor urban neighborhoods need more chances for old-fashioned playtime in their daily lives, says a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A number of experts have raised concerns that children these days have little time for unstructured play which, they say, is important for kids’ physical and mental development, Health news reported.
The new report follows another from the AAP a few years ago, which argued that US suburban children are “overscheduled” with formal classes and lessons, leaving them little time for simple play. “That’s not the case for poor children,” said Dr Regina M Milteer, lead author of the new study. “But they’re still not getting free, unstructured playtime,” she told.
For poor children, in cities in particular, the problems are a lack of safe places to play, parents who are busy trying to pay for housing and other basics and schools that are cutting out recess and physical education to make more time for academics.
Schools nationwide have been reducing time for recess and plays. But those in poor areas, in particular, are feeling pressure to narrow disparities in student performance. “In close to one-third of schools with the highest poverty rates, recess has been completely eliminated,” Milteer said.
The findings do not prove that recess, was the reason. But, Milteer said, it makes sense that kids, like adults, are better able to focus if they get a little break time from their work.
That same study also found that kids who lacked regular recess time were more likely to be black, low-income and live in large cities, versus kids who routinely had recess.
One way to help poor urban kids is to “encourage schools to keep recess and physical activity on the schedule,” Milteer said. Cities and neighborhood organisations should also provide more “safe spaces” for kids to play, Milteer said. That could mean moves like keeping school playgrounds open in the evenings and weekends, with supervision. Milteer said it’s also important for parents to remember that those expensive toys that they often cannot afford are not necessarily the best ones for their children’s development anyway.
Simple toys and games, and time outdoors with their parents, go a long way, Milteer said. “One thing that children always want is attention from their parents.”
Various steps taken to implement anti-narcotics policy: The Narcotics Control Ministry has taken various steps for the implementation of the Anti-Narcotics Policy to address the prevailing drug situation in the country. This was stated by a Narcotics Ministry official while talking to the APP. He said the key element of the Anti-Narcotics Policy is to reduce the demand by focusing on drug demand prevention and the treatment of drug users.
He added that the policy seeks to enhance public participation in combating drug abuse, strengthening drug enforcement structures and boosting treatment and rehabilitation services.
He stated that the policy also emphasised on coordination and cooperation among the federal and provincial agencies and departments involved in anti-narcotics activities.
“The Anti-Narcotics Policy will reenergise the existing national Drug Law Enforcement institutions, build the Anti Narcotics Force capacity, develop an effective coordination and control mechanism and mobilise the people of the country – especially the youth and institutions – to ensure their active participation in eradicating drugs,” he said.
