7 reasons parents should play with their kids
Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 9, 2025.
In the talk around getting kids active, all of us have probably heard people say, “Kids should just go outside and play.” Nice idea, but we know it doesn’t work, and we’ve discussed here on Active for Life a few reasons why.
But there’s another version of this sentiment that especially bothers me. In the last couple of years, I’ve heard some people say, “Parents shouldn’t need to play with their kids.” I’ve heard this remark many times, and it’s always delivered in a disparaging tone, as if playing with your kids is something bad and wrong.
Really?
As best I can tell, the authors of these remarks seem to imagine that playing with your kids represents mollycoddling. That’s nonsense. If we’re talking about kids ages 3-10 years especially, there are good reasons why you should gleefully play with them. I’m going to give you seven.
1. Sometimes, no one else will
Quite simply, you might be living somewhere where your child has no one close in age to play with. What do you expect them to do? Play Frisbee by themselves? Chase the neighbour’s dog down the street? You’re not mollycoddling your child if you decide to get a ball and a couple of gloves to play catch. You’re not inhibiting their ability to make friends by playing a bit of one-on-one soccer or basketball or badminton. You’re making sure they get an active start in life despite awkward circumstances. And it’s very unlikely that you’ll have to be their sole playmate forever.
2. You provide an important active role model
When you play with your child, you demonstrate that play never goes out of style, and you show them that you value physical activity. You also get to model soft-skills such as sportsmanship and effort. You can be sure of one thing: your kids are watching you. And they will imitate you. (Read this article to learn more about active parenting styles and find which one most resonates with you!)
3. You develop their movement skills
Fundamental movement skills are basic movements that kids need to start developing from an early age so they can become physically literate. Again, it’s not necessarily about becoming a superstar athlete. These are basic life skills that are every bit as important as learning to read and write.
4. You set them up for lifelong health
As you start your kids on the path to physical literacy and a love of physical activity, you set them up to become active for life. Consequently, they are more likely to enjoy greater lifelong physical, mental, and emotional health. As countless generations of grandparents have advised their offspring, you ain’t got nothing if you don’t got your health.
5. You nudge them in the direction of scholastic success
New research is constantly emerging about the positive correlation between physical activity and improved academic performance. What would you rather do: Spend 30 minutes laughing and playing with your child four days a week or battle through 30 minutes of helping them with their homework every night because they’re having attention issues at school due to being chronically inactive?
6. You bond with them
If you make it fun, you will forge deep bonds with your kids by playing with them. I played with all three of my kids as they were growing up—soccer, basketball, badminton, baseball, Frisbee, tennis, cycling, and more—and I’m grateful that I did. Each of them went on to form other friendships, do lots of different sports and physical activities, become good students, and inherit happy memories of playing with Dad. Which is good because my RRSPs don’t amount to much.
7. You discover the joy of play again
There can be much laughter and pleasure in movement and play. When was the last time you experienced it? You’re never too old to play, and there’s no shame in hanging out with children and acting like a kid yourself. As Dr. Peter Gray explains below, you get to enjoy one of the greatest gifts of being alive. You also reduce your blood cortisol and increase your serotonin—without prescription drugs! What a concept.
There are lots of great reasons to play with your kids. You can probably think of others as well. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section below.