There are multiple factors in a child's development. Parents have the responsibility, as well as the privilege, to help achieve every goal. Most parents worry so much about the physical and mental stages that playtime is ignored. By making decisions that sacrifice play, parents hinder their social development. Parents need to take action and encourage their young ones to play more, before childhood is lost forever. Playtime is an essential part of early childhood development as well as their most primitive form of expression. In an article entitled “The importance of play” by Bruno Bettelheim, he refers to Sigmund Freud's thought that play is the child's first step towards achieving “cultural and psychological achievements”. (Bettelheim 324) The author also cites Freud's notation on how children use play to “express themselves.” (Bettelheim 324) Play is vital to the maturation of children's emotional and mental health. Bettelheim, in his article, reflects on Fraud's vision of “how children use play to process and overcome rather complex psychological difficulties of the past and present”. (Bettelheim 324) As a mother, I agree with this insight because I can witness the day's events unfold through the eyes of my son as he holds Batman and Robin figures in his hands. Today's culture sees media as a necessity. One class of media entertainment is television. Television is often mistaken for gaming among children. Marie Winn wrote “The End of Play” commenting on how children have replaced “fantasy and make-believe games” for television. (Winn 76) A study published in USA Today showed survey results indicating that “14% of parents said the TV is always on.” (Par 4). The findings highlight that “TV reduced the intensity of play with a given toy.” (Par 3... middle of paper... without pause, children are denied the elements of social development. Physical education classes, or physical education, are the higher grades' version of recess. At this level, youth engage in a more structured program with specific goals. Education Digest, Ann Rosewater of Team Up for Youth reflects on how organized sports are a bridge to positive adult outcomes” (Par 7) Details state that youth “they connect with positive peer groups and offer the experience of failing but trying again.” Choices are the most dominant factors in adolescents. Parents must control external influences that interfere with their emotional and physical maturity.