Why Stomp & Play

The body is the brain’s first teacher. In an age where app developers target toddlers, there are some very real developmental and health-related reasons why now is the right time for Stomp & Play! 

Music and movement is an amazing outlet that can use tons of imagination. Children learn the classification of movement concepts, body awareness, and qualities of movement relationships. It also provides an outlet for a child’s high energy and creativity. Exposing children to music and movement experiences help develop both sides of the brain, contributes to social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.

With children spending more and more time on screens… and less and less time moving their bodies, researchers are sounding the alarm on what it means to childhood development and health.

Overstimulated Children

  • “Children aged two to six now spend two to four hours a day screen-bound” [1]
  • Children younger than 30 months “cannot learn from television and videos as they do from real-life interactions.” And to use a mobile device before that age… can be “detrimental to the social-emotional development of the child.” [2]
  • Empathy, problem-solving skills, and peer interaction are all affected by technology due to overstimulation. [3]
  • “Because it’s stimulating, interactive screen-time shifts the nervous system into fight-or-flight mode, which leads to dysregulation and disorganization of various biological systems.” [1]

Understimulated Children

  • Today’s children are 4 times less active in their day-to-day lives than their grandparents were. [4]
  • Children are losing their sense of adventure– a quarter spend less than 30 minutes a week playing outside. [5]
  • One in 10 infants and toddlers in the U.S. and one in five children between the ages of 2 and 5 are overweight. [6]
  • Studies show that as many as half of American children are not getting enough exercise– and that risk factors like hypertension and arteriosclerosis are showing up at age 5. [7]

Proper Stimulation

The literature also prescribes the ideal breakdown of a child’s day.

  • 80% of a child’s day should be devoted to 3 types of play:
    • Free
    • Directed
    • Structured
  • The other 20% should be quiet time.
  • Although the children are only playing to have fun, they’re learning
    • communication skills and vocabulary (as they invent, modify, and enforce rules).
    • number relationships (as they keep score and count)
    • social customs (as they learn to play together and cooperate)

Music and Movement Provide an Outlet for Energy and Creativity

  • Children are increasingly diagnosed with hyper activity disorders- not always the correct diagnosis- research ever changing on what defines these disorders [8]
  • The lives of children have changed dramatically in the past decade with the rise of technology
  • Less time is spent outside and more time is dedicated to “screen time” [5]
  • Teachers are forced to specific guidelines and standards that leave less time for play

Ready to get started with Stomp & Play? Please contact us or call us at (210) 876-4076.

 

References

  1. Dunckley, Victoria L. Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-time.
  2. McCoy, Terrence. “Researchers: Using an IPad or Smartphone Can Harm a Toddler’s Learning and Social Skills.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2015. Web.
  3. Rowan, Cris. “A Research Review regarding the Impact of Technology on Child Development, Behavior, and Academic Performance.“
  4. 4.Hassink, Sandra Gibson. A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Obesity: A Road Map to Health. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006. Print.
  5. 5.Carter, Claire. “Children Spend Less than 30 Minutes Playing outside a Week.” The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 14 Apr. 2014. Web.
  6. “Childhood Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Aug. 2015. Web.
  7. “Earlychildhood NEWS – Article Reading Center.” Earlychildhood NEWS – Article Reading Center.  Web.
  8. Akinbami, Lara J., M.D., Xiang Liu, M.Sc, Patricia N. Pastor, Ph.D, and Cynthia A. Reuben, M.A. “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Children Aged 5–17 Years in the United States, 1998–2009.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Aug. 2011. Web.
  9. Edwards, L.C., K.M. Bayless, and M.E. Ramsey. “Four Important Reasons for Including Music in the Classroom.” Four Important Reasons for Including Music in the Classroom. Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall, 20 July 2010. Web.