Remember when we sat in the dirt under a tree and played all afternoon? We never bothered about the scorching sun during the summer vacations, the heat, the dust, all the insects. We were just busy with ourselves and our friends. Now University of Cambridge research says that that was good for our mental health. How many of us are providing that opportunity for our children or our next generation?

Almost 1700 kids were analysed between the ages of three and seven, and those with friends and play time showed much lower mental health fluctuations than those who did not. The wonderful part is that even when researchers explored this connection in children with mental health issues, they seem to be significant improvement.

“We think this connection exists because through playing with others, children acquire the skills to build strong friendships as they get older and start school. Even if they are at risk of poor mental health, those friendship networks will often get them through,” says Dr Jenny Gibson, from the Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Centre at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.

The research advises that kids need to:

• Play with children in their own age for better mental health.
• Even simple games at the toddler age are good for a sound foundation for mental health.
• Imaginative friends and games of imagination trigger creativity.
• Purpose oriented activities like building blocks or playing hide and seek when included, lead to sound mental health.

When these are done regularly, levels of hyperactivity reduce. So children with higher emotional reactivity benefit most. If they cry to easily, get upset too easily, have had a difficulty of soothing in infancy, they can be at risk for mental health problems as they grow up. However, when they play with other children and get some down time, they develop social skills and emotional equilibrium as well as empathy to understand other people’s feelings. This leads to a more balanced and well-rounded person as they mature. Creating bonds with their friends or people their age group also creates social circle they grow up with.

“The standard offer at the moment is to put the parents on a parenting course,” Gibson said. “We could be focusing much more on giving children better opportunities to meet and play with their peers.”

So the next time your toddler or little one wants to just play with your friends, don’t say no. Encourage them. It’s good for their mental health.