An interesting work signed by Professor Peter Gray, a specialist in the psychological aspects of children's play, has recently appeared in the American Journal of Play, which states the positive effect it has for children to provide them with the opportunity to play with others of different ages.
In schoolyards, classrooms or in the same parks, we tend to group children with their age and this, as long as children know how to respect them, may not be the best strategy: to get the game to be more stimulating is preferable that children have different ages.
This, that well thought out is the most logical thing, it is rare that it is encouraged in school socialization. Homeschoolers enjoy it more regularly and usually interact in groups of all ages, but, when there is opportunity, on vacation, with friends or family, or when you go out with the children to the park, it would be convenient encourage open play to different age groups.
The little ones will face new challenges, will have new models and will learn, stimulated by the challenges. The elderly will work on empathy, caring for others, tenderness and also cognitive skills such as explaining things patiently.
And this, as I said, is the most logical. Our ancestors lived in small groups, in which there would be a limited number of children and it would be normal for children and adults to play together.
Socialization and play opportunities for our current children should reproduce as much as possible the natural conditions of the species, and not compartmentalize leisure and play activities by watertight ages, as playing with children of different ages is positive for their cognitive development.
