The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that doctors write a prescription for kids that’s a bit out of the ordinary.
In a new clinical report, the AAP stresses the importance of a “prescription for play.” The report, which is an update to one from 2007, explains the many benefits play can have in a child’s life, including its role in promoting “social-emotional, cognitive, language and self-regulation skills” as well as its ability to help manage stress and create nurturing relationships between children and caretakers.