The importance of roughhousing with your kids

Roughhousing expands their minds. During roughhousing, the brain perceives a playful physical challenge. This response causes the brain to release a wonderful neuro growth stimulator called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF helps increase neuron growth in the parts of the brain responsible for memory, logic, and higher learning – skills necessary for academic success. 

Roughhousing builds body awareness, which is essential for many reasons. Body awareness provides a foundation for complex motor coordination and planning (you need to know where your body is in space to run and kick a moving ball). It is also the basis for spatial awareness, which in turn is needed for writing, maths, tech and design skills. Roughhousing is full of tactile experiences – whether through tickling, wrestling or rolling around on the floor. This tactile input builds body schema.

Roughhousing builds muscle tone and motor skills. Rolling around and resisting the push and pull of another human body activates the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. These two senses are directly responsible for building muscle tone and in turn, balance reactions and gross motor skills.

Roughhousing can feel quite exhilarating, but is always coupled with a hug and affection afterwards. This helps little ones find solutions to challenges, which is an essential life skill.

Roughhousing builds our social acumen. There are unwritten rules to roughhousing – they include respecting another person, reading their cues and taking turns. These simple social strategies are learnt while having fun, and if someone oversteps the mark and feels ‘hurt’ or unhappy, the other person repairs the relationship by watching for signals and saying sorry.

And that’s part of life.

Roughhousing keeps us fit. Physical activity is vital, and let’s be honest, in our modern day of tech and screens, happens far too seldom. Get physical, and your child gets fit.

Roughhousing reinforces the relationship. Often it’s dad who gets down and roughhouses, offering the opportunity for learning, having fun and bonding.  

So if you start to feel concerned watching this rough and tumble play, remember that it’s gold to your child’s developing brain and emotions.

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article/post are those of the author and do not necesssarily reflect the official policy or position of Woolworths or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees and/or advisors.