An increasing number of child development experts and studies are stressing the importance of unstructured play time for children. I'm not surprised.

When you think back to your childhood, what do you remember? Although I remember the occasional structured activity like cub scouts and little league baseball events, most of what I happily recall are unstructured events: riding my bike, catching frogs, a pickup unorganized game of kickball with my friends and more. Children these days very often have little unstructured time.

It is possible, in fact not unlikely, for children to have after school activities every day of the week, and other scheduled activities each day of the weekend, often more than one event per day. One prime offender are organized sports, which are far too organized and intense at far too early an age, and yes I resent the imposition in my children's life and development as well as my own! My kids have been known to complain that they want to be able to hang out at home at least one day a week instead of having endless structured activities.

Experts agree that unstructured play time is important for children, for example to help develop problem solving skills and empathy. In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics says that "undirected play" helps children develop skills including negotiating and conflict resolutions skills as well as sharing ability.

It is easy to stick your kids in endless structured activities. There is peer pressure to do so, it's easier than watching them yourself, and it's also selfish and bad for their development!