Occupational Therapist, Angela Hanscom, believes the reduced amount of time that children today spend in active free play is connected to an increase in issues with things like regulating emotions, reading, and sensory integration.
She refers to “active free play” as play that is not restricted by the rules or objects created by adults. It is child-directed, ideally in nature where kids can come up with their own ideas about how to interact with each other and with the world around them.
The following article on Hanscom’s findings and her book, “Balanced and Barefoot”, is an interesting read:
http://www.parent.co/kids-need-active-free-play-for-healthy-bodies