Reclaiming Childhood: Psychologist Urges a Return to Play and Rest for Young Students

A clinical psychologist is sounding the alarm: the relentless focus on early academic achievement is robbing primary school children of their childhood and setting them up for burnout. She urges parents to reclaim this precious time by prioritizing play and rest over packed schedules and high-pressure tasks.
Meghna Kanwat, a clinical psychologist, is a strong advocate for the ‘Play-Rest-Learn’ balance. She argues that for young children, play is not a break from learning; it is the most important form of learning. Through unstructured play, children develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence—abilities that are far more critical than early rote memorization.
“Parents can help by ensuring balanced schedules that include unstructured play…rather than overloading with too many competitive or high-pressure tasks,” Kanwat advises. This is a direct challenge to the culture of “enrichment” activities that can leave young children exhausted and overstimulated.
Rest is the other forgotten pillar of a healthy childhood. In our fast-paced world, children are often not given enough downtime to simply be. This mental rest is vital for consolidating learning and preventing the cognitive fatigue that can manifest as behavioral problems or a negative attitude towards school.
By intentionally building schedules that protect time for play and rest, parents are not holding their children back. On the contrary, they are providing the essential ingredients for a healthy, resilient, and curious mind. They are reclaiming childhood from the grips of premature academic pressure and allowing their children to develop at a natural, sustainable pace.