There's one thing school students across the nation will all agree on: Zoom classes are exhausting! In the middle of the pandemic, seeing the computer screen continuously for more than six hours every day while plowing through the syllabus is far from fun.Schools have made playtime a diversion to compensate for the time lost to the lockdown. But is play just a leisure activity?

An impending mental health crisis

Children benefit tremendously from playing. The problem with remote learning is that it's anything but playful! While Zoom was initially a great option for attending classes from the comfort of your home, the initial lure of doing anything has faded and a "Zoom Fatigue" has set in.

On top of strenuous schoolwork, there are online tutoring sessions and online hobby classes. As parents worry about keeping their kids safe, kids rarely get to play with friends during the current pandemic as they seldom leave their chairs.

We have lost the joy of playing - both online and offline; and the effects can be seen. Reviewing 80 different studies, researchers found that social distancing and school closure increased mental health issues in children and adolescents. There is a higher level of boredom and frustration among kids. 

Why playful learning is important

One study found that children were unmotivated and missed their friends. In class, they skip assignments, surf the internet, and generally don't pay attention. What's missing? Having peer interactions and feeling part of the community. Friends and the environment play an equally important role in a student's learning process as teachers. The relationships they form during lunch breaks, at the playground, and after school with their classmates are essential to their development.

Zoom can't replace this holistic school experience. While scientists toil away on a vaccine that will finally make the world a safer place, how can educators make sure all children get to enjoy a wholesome education?

Changing classrooms

Past few years have been anything but normal. We need to recognize that children need a "new normal" too in their education. There is a need for classrooms to move beyond conveying information to ensuring a holistic development. The first step to making learning fun and experiential is to make it interactive.

In order to develop deeper proficiency in a range of subjects, we need to let go of rote learning and instead gamify concepts. Besides, you cannot learn to bake by reading cookbooks alone; you must burn a few cakes (and eat them) before you can perfect your skill.

The same goes for children who learn through action, instead of reading. They remain deeply engaged and excited with curiosity. Additionally, it develops higher-order thinking skills such as imagination, communication, and teamwork, as well as softer aspects such as self-awareness and a sense of purpose.

In addition to the sense of belonging it gives children, another important aspect of the play is at bringing peers together. Even though nothing can replace face-to-face human interactions, making learning enjoyable and playful may be a crucial component of addressing the mental health issues facing students.

It's time to bring back the playtime. It's a necessity, not a distraction!