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June 28, 2022
by Elizabeth Pratt

Playing well in pre-school lowers risk of mental health issues later in life

June 28, 2022 08:00 by Elizabeth Pratt  [About the Author]

Children who play well with peers when they are pre-school age have better mental health later in life. 

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that the capacity to play well with other children, known as “peer play ability” has a protective effect on the mental health of a child. 

“We found that children who can play well with other children when they are aged 3 tend to enjoy better mental health outcomes when they are aged 7. Our study shows that early social play experiences are a key piece of the puzzle when thinking about building children's resilience to mental health challenges. We hope that parents, caregivers, health professionals and early educators will take home the message that providing opportunities for play with other children is an essential part of giving each child the best start in life,” Dr. Jenny Gibson, author of the study and a researcher at the University of Cambridge told Theravive. 

In undertaking the research, Gibson and her colleagues examined data from nearly 1700 children. Data was collected when the children were three and seven years of age. 

They found that those who had a stronger ability to play well at the age of three showed fewer signs of poor mental health later when they were seven. 

The children who played well had fewer emotional or conduct related problems, had lower levels of hyperactivity and were less likely to have fights or disagreements with other kids. 

“Play has always fascinated me because it is such a universal phenomenon and yet it remains poorly understood. Children all around the world engage in play, and many animal species too - from cats to crows, and even some types of fish, yet theories of its importance are contested. Some people think play is just a way to get rid of excess energy, but I think it is something deeper than that - that it is a uniquely beneficial and enjoyable way for us to learn key life skills that support social wellbeing,” Gibson said. 

“Mental health was a particularly interesting outcome to consider in relation to play, given increasing concerns for child mental health, especially post-COVID lockdowns. I was motivated to learn whether theories linking play and mental wellbeing really do have any substance, and if so whether this could be a good route towards building better mental health support for our children.” 

She argues the findings of the study suggest it is important to give young children who may be vulnerable to mental health problems access to opportunities for play with their peers. 

“We think that play with others protects against future mental health challenges because it is a natural way for children to develop the cognitive and emotional maturity they need to build up a strong social network,” she said.  

“Through play children can learn essential social skills like co-operation, turn taking, managing emotions, and coping with uncertainty. In other words, play helps children develop the skills they need to make and keep friends. There is plenty of research showing that children and adults who have good quality friendships are at lower risk of depression and other adverse health outcomes. In our study we are showing that the early roots of this social resilience effect could lie in early social play skills.”

She says parents can support their children by encouraging play, and reminds parents it doesn’t require fancy toys or expensive gadgets to get children interacting with others.

Allowing children to take the lead with unstructured, child-led play is also important. 

“The best thing about play is that every child is an expert. You don't need expensive toys or gadgets, making time and space to play every day is what's important,” she said. 

“It's never too early to build in opportunities for your baby to meet other children! Look out for parent-baby activities at your local community groups or story time at the local public library. For older children, you can set up play dates or take children to the local play park. Organised games can be fun, but I recommend that at least some time each week is reserved for unstructured, child-led play.”

About the Author

Elizabeth Pratt

Elizabeth Pratt is a medical journalist and producer. Her work has appeared on Healthline, The Huffington Post, Fox News, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Sydney Morning Herald, News.com.au, Escape, The Cusp and Skyscanner. You can read more of her articles here. Or learn more about Elizabeth and contact her via her LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.


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