I think it's no secret to most parents that kids don't get the time to play like we did when we were kids. Do you remember? At least in my town, we pretty much had free reign to do whatever we wanted all day if we weren't in school, and we spent that time running through the woods, playing games, or getting into all kinds of imaginary mischief in the yard. Riding bikes around town or walking to the river were also common activities.

Now, it seems kids have less energy and less passion for play, and a multitude of modern variables are deteriorating the span of time in which kids just get to be kids. Here are some reasons it's happening.

1. A Changing World

First off, the world has just changed, and that's not always a good thing in every way. Kids have unlimited access to video games, movies, cell phones, the internet, and all kinds of electronic media now. Their idea of what constitutes a good time is a bit different than what ours was, and they spend a lot of time just wired in.

2. Busy Schedules

Another thing that has changed is the modern American's lifestyle. We are all prisoners to our schedules now. We're always working or running errands, and we find ourselves having to set aside specific times to make sure our kids get to play—a term that is becoming known as the "play date." These times don't always go as planned. The rest of our busy life often gets in the way, and the result is less and less of these structured times to let loose.

3. Strict Parents

Some parents just expect a little too much out of children. It's often because they want them to be the ultimate success in life—to do better in school, sports, and life than all the others. It's understandable to want the best for your child, but some parent's need to lighten up a little bit and relinquish control.

4. Paranoid Parents

The media bombards us these days with stories of violent crimes people who prey on children. These things happen no more than in the past—in fact, many researches claim that the odds of your child being kidnapped or otherwise victimized have actually gone way down. Sensationalism just puts it in the spotlight, drawing our attention to it, and as a result we are afraid to let our kids out of the house alone.

5. Misunderstanding Play

Finally, many parents just don't realize how important it is to play. Casual play is the most important natural method of cognitive and physical development, and children need this time to build skills for life.

Some parents don't realize this and add it all up to just goofing off. Some may even think that encouraging too much horsing around somehow limits your child's maturity development, but when you understand just how vital this type of activity is, it becomes much easier to let it run its course.