CHILDREN WHO PLAY ADVENTUROUSLY HAVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

According to a new study, children who spend a lot of time in adventurous play, have fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and were happy during the first Covid 19 lockdown.

A study, published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development, led by the University of Exeter asked parents how often their children engaged in play that was "thrilling and exciting", where they might experience some fear and uncertainty. The study comes at a time when today's children have fewer opportunities for adventurous play out of sight of adults, such as climbing trees, riding bikes, jumping from high surfaces, or playing somewhere where they are out of adults' sight. The study sought to test theories that adventurous play offers learning opportunities that help build resilience in children, thereby helping to prevent mental health problems.

With funding from a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, the research team surveyed nearly 2,500 parents of children aged 5-11 years. Parents completed questions about their child's play, their general mental health (pre-Covid), and their mood during the first Covid-19 lockdown.