Why dumping kids in front of the TV stunts their growth

Everyone knows that play is fun, but did you know how important it is to your child's emotional growth? Raisingkids.co.uk's founder Dr Pat Spungin has teamed up with the British Toy and Hobby Association [BTHA] to promote the importance of play.

'Whether you have five minutes or a whole evening your children benefit by you just being there,' she says, urging parents to embrace their inner kid. 'What adults may find dull, children find fun such as cooking, playing games and washing the car.'

Speaking at this year's British Toy Fair, Dr Spungin added that parents should also give children the room and freedom to play by themselves. 'Many parents feel guilty about the lack of time they have to do activities with their offspring. They shouldn't. Most children are happy having unstructured playtime with friends, siblings and parents.'

To help families make the most of playtime, the BTHA has produced a booklet, called Solutions Through Fun, with loads of ideas for having fun with your kids. To download the booklet, click here.

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