
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Quite often, when our children return from afternoon play, they look exhausted, and ready for a nap. ; That is the most accurate description, and quite the truth. ; Play is hard work. ; It is exhausting to the mind and body of the young person, and plays an extremely important role in helping them to become productive, healthy citizens.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The role of exercise and play in a young child’s life provides them with many benefits. ; Exercise of the body is an important part of keeping the young body fit as it grows into an adult body. ; When we reach adulthood, if we have had the benefit of exercise and play, we tend to continue that habit into our adult years.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; What else is to be gained from the opportunities that play affords? ; We often participate in organized sports, coordinated play times, and are a member of a large group during all of these activities. ; Play on this level teaches us how to interact with our peers, develop camaraderie and perform as a team with other players. ; These skills are absolute necessities in today’s business world. ; But what else is happening here, during this time of play and exercise?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; What we learn in body language, coping skills, and the interaction of the mind and body during our interaction with others, is invaluable. ; When we learn these skills well, we not only learn how to interact with others, we learn how to interact with our self. ; Interact with our self? ; That seems like a pointless exercise, but it is an all important part of maintaining our health and wellness. ; There are times that our bodies try to tell us things about our physical or mental condition, and we simply refuse to listen. ; If we have learned how to listen to others around us when they attempt to point out a need or desire, we have a useful tool in listening to ourselves. ; This often can mean the difference between optimal health, and creating an unhealthy situation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; What else do we learn? ; We learn what our physical and mental limitations are. ; During play, you see children and young adolescents push themselves to the very limit. ; But as children, we are better able to distinguish between a real limit versus what society deems our limits. ; As a child, or young adult, the pressures of the world do not weigh on us as they do when we are adults. ; We are better keepers of the temple at ten, than we are at twenty. ; We are still very in tune to what our body tells us, because it is our true master as a child. ; As an adult, we have let outside influences master our body and mind, and dominate our time.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; As you can see, the benefits to be gained during our exercise and play time as children, is a benefit to us for the remainder of our lives. ; Too often, we adults forget the importance of exercise and play and the principles that are to be learned from time spent in these activities. ; We want to rush our children into their daily responsibilities, forgetting that their chief responsibility during the younger years is the play and interaction of young minds.</p>

