Reply to Lack of independent play is creating mental health crisis among kids today -- and overprotective parenting is to blame

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As though aftercare isn't a Lord of the Flies free for all...[/quote]

Yeah, I'm trying to understand why folks think aftercare or summer day camp is part of this particular problem.  Both after care and traditional day camps (not talking about academic or specialty camps) are A LOT of unstructured play and a lot of it is outside and active.  At my DD's camp last year she had a big free swim every afternoon (no different than going to the pool with friends) and overall I'd say a good 60% of the day was unstructured hanging out with peers -- jumping on trampolines, swinging in hammocks, making friendship bracelets and chatting, stuff like that... Certainly no screens! My kindergarten niece looooooves after care because it's truly just a big playdate.  These things are not the problem.

I think a child does suffer for being truly over-scheduled with STRUCTURED  activities, so they don't have time for playing with friends (whether its running around with neighborhood kids, playdates, aftercare, at day camp, etc.).  You kid doesn't have to free roam though to have unstructured play with peers.  And a balance with some structured activities is ok too.    [/quote]

+1 My son is in 6th grade and chose after care over riding the bus home this year. He likes it so much that he wants to stay longer than he even needs to every day. I'm friends with the director and I know it's 98% free play time. He's made some good friends there. They make up games on the playground or in the gym, or just hang out and talk and goof around.

It's different than running around an entire neighborhood unsupervised. But I do appreciate the unstructured atmosphere.

As an aside, we went to a friend's neighborhood to trick or treat, and I let ds join a small group of other 6th graders to run off unsupervised for an hour. I was so anxious and unsure about it. I kept having to remind myself that I was OF COURSE trick or treating unsupervised at that age. And walking to school and riding my bike alone to the store and running around with friends through neighborhoods. In the end I was glad he had the opportunity. I [/quote]

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