Today is your day Boomer! Okay grandpa and grandma, got the grandkids over to play today? Thinking about buying a $1000 Playstation or $500 bikes to keep them happy and occupied? How about a box instead? A simple cardboard box with a few accessories like crayons and blankets? This is called "unstructured play" by our health experts, and you should recognize it from your early play days. Simple, thought-provoking fun stuff! Here are the benefits, according to those experts: (1)Physical health and gross motor skills: Active, unstructured play reduces sedentary behaviours, helps promote healthy weights and improves motor skills. It improves musculoskeletal fitness and cardiovascular health. (2)Mental and emotional health: Unstructured play promotes children’s mental and emotional well-being such as positive self-concept and self-esteem. It supports the formation and maintenance of friendships. (3)Social health and team work: Unstructured play helps children improve their social competence,including emotional intelligence, self-awareness, empathy and the ability to communicate effectively in situations that involve compromise and cooperation.(4) Learning and attention at school: Unstructured play has been shown to promote cognitive skills development (attention, concentration, ability to stay on task, and memory) and improve behaviour in class.(5)Resiliency and risk management skills: When children experience uncertainty during challenging play, they develop emotional reactions, physical capabilities and coping skills, and improve their capacity to manage adversity."(Canadian Public Health Association) All you need is a cardboard box Boomers! Try it?! Cheers.

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