Play is more important than being fit or smart

It's no secret — and certainly not new news — that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants California kids to be fit.

In 1990, former President George Bush appointed Gov. Schwarzenegger Chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, where he traveled the 50 states to address the need for more after-school alternatives. In 2002, he victoriously supported Proposition 49, the After-School Education & Safety Act.

Now, Irvine Company Chairman Donald Bren is donating $8.5 million to THINK Together, a non-profit after-school provider serving about 20,000 students at more than 180 sites in school districts throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It offers academically enriching afterschool programs that receives funds from Prop 49 and is endorsed by Schwarzenegger.

In the article from Business Wire, Schwarzenegger says:

“I’ve always been a big believer in after-school programs.
"The danger zone for kids is from 1 o’clock to 6 o’clock, because that’s when they are often unsupervised. That’s when they can get into all kinds of trouble with gangs and drugs, if no one is paying attention to them.
“This funding by Donald Bren will make a substantial positive difference for thousands of students. Facts show that high-quality, well-organized after-school programs help kids do better work in the classroom.
“The students in Santa Ana and Eastern Los Angeles County now have a brighter future, because of the guidance they will receive with THINK Together and the opportunity to have something positive and productive to do after school.”

However, if children are too bombarded with academics or forced activities after they've already been in school all day, it has the potential to seriously inhibit their individuality.

Jean Piaget, late and renowned Swiss psychologist, believes that play is an important part for developing children. In an article in TIME Magazine, more about Piaget and his work is described.

I say, let the children play ... as long as they're in a safe environment with good, trustworthy people/friends, they shouldn't be forced to sit through yet another class or play a sport they're not interested in after being in school all day.

*Arnold picture from allposters.com; Piaget picture from notablebiographies.com