Children and Play
Written by: Naqeeb Ahmad Azizi
Those children who are helping and encouraging by their families to study, are always successful but those whose families do not encourage them to study and not let them to play, are facing problems.
AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some students and their families about this issue.
Shahpoor, a resident of Hairatan town, Balkh province says: “I go to school in the morning and after school, I work at a general store and have no time for playing. I always feel tired and I lost my interest in school lessons.”
Mary Shafaq, a resident of Balkh District, Balkh province says: “my son is a school student. He always goes alone to school. We do not let him to play with other boys because we are afraid of bad friends. He always complains of boredom.”
A girl, a night-grade student says: “I go to school and come back home. My father helps me in my school lessons during the night and I have no time for playing. Sometimes I feel headache and fatigue and even hate school lessons.”
A psychologist, Professor Muhammad Zahir Shams says: “play deprivation might have long-term negative consequences on a child's learning, physical and mental health. These children grow with shyness and their talent and minds would not grow well. They think their homes like a jail and parents as jail’s guards and they lost their interest in their school lessons too.”
What are the causes of these problems?
Mary says: “playing has a direct effect on our mind. Monotonous life is always boring. If we adult do not go out for walking or recreation for a long time, we might get sick and children need more time for playing.”
Laiq, a resident of Balkh district, Balkh province says: “if someone always studies and has no time for playing, he/she would be bored soon.”
Professor Shams says: “the children nature is bounded with fun and recreation and they need to play. If someone does not allow their children to play, the children might face some crucial problems.”
How could people solve this issue?
Mansoor, an eight-grade student says: “I go to school and at night, I study my lessons with my father. I go to picnic together with my parents and I never feel tired.”
Professor Shams says: “there are many solutions for this issue. At the beginning, the parents should find out the interest of their children and then they should provide toys and other playthings for them. They should take time to their children to play and if its needed, the parents should play with them. If some families could not buy toys, they could prepare toys at home for them.”