When I met my friend Aishwarya's daughter, Aanya, on a Sunday afternoon, she was building an entire world in her backyard using only sticks, leaves, and her imagination. In her eyes, a stick became a magic wand, leaves turned into currency for her "shop," and an old cardboard box was her fortress. Aishwarya admitted that this was Aanya’s “free play” time—a period without gadgets, instructions, or adult guidance, which made me curious.

To put this to rest, we had a word with Dr Kushal Agrawal, Neonatologist and Head of the Department of Neonatology and Paediatrics at KVR Hospital Kashipur, "Unstructured play is much more than just frivolous fun. It is an integral part of child development. Today, children do not have much scope for free play. With the academic system, straddled by extracurricular activities and digital entertainment, the scope for unstructured play is getting smaller and smaller.". On the contrary, research reveals that unstructured plays hold a lot of benefits for children that structured activities may not have in store.

What are the Physical Benefits of Unstructured Play?

According to Dr Agrawal, "free time plays" are a great way for kids to get involved in physical activities meant for their growth. "When children are left to play freely, their movements become more varied and spontaneous," he says. Science behind this practice does support this because free play increases the levels of physical activity, which is moderately vigorous in children; this is essential in preventing childhood obesity and promoting health in general.

Other than these, the outdoor environments provide opportunities and challenges for natural development outside. While children run, jump, climb, and look around the outdoors, they can become able to develop strength, coordination, and endurance for a healthy and active lifestyle by exercising. Otherwise, structured activities often restrict children to specific movements or instructions.

How Play helps in Social and Emotional Growth of Kids?

Except for physical fitness, disorganized play lays the foundation for basic social and emotional capabilities. During unorganized play, children invent their games, negotiate roles, settle disputes, and collaborate to attain some common objectives. According to Dr. Agrawal, "such interactions build empathy, cooperation, and communication skills as children learn to express themselves, listen to others and adapt to group dynamics.".

Research indicates that children learn emotional resilience through unstructured play, navigating minor setbacks in a low-stakes environment. If the game goes sour, kids learn to solve the problem on the spot; this builds up their self-confidence as well as independence. This is a kind of play that gives children the freedom to learn by themselves and try new things without having the fear of being prohibited by others or the fear of failure.

How Parents can Encourage Creativity and Problem-Solving in Children

Freedom in play helps unlock a child's creativity and the problem-solving aspects. Most structured activities have predetermined tasks or instructions that do not develop creative thought. According to Dr Agrawal, "When children are allowed to be free, they can explore and create their own scenarios, which are meant for developing unique solutions based on critical thinking.".

Unstructured play provides children with a number of materials for play—blocks, sand, or leaves, for example—without script, so that they invent games, build imaginary worlds, and, in a very real sense, answer their natural curiosity. It has been proven that this type of play helps children to make decisions, adaptability, and innovations, qualities useful throughout life.

Is Play Holistic Approach to Child Development?

Dr Agrawal believes that unstructured play is a very important factor of all-rounded child development. "Nowadays, children's lives are very scheduled, so it's very important for the parents to remember how necessary play is", he further adds. Being freely playful would be a great support to their healthy physical development as well as social, emotional, and cognitive development.

As parents, we can encourage free play by creating an environment that encourages exploration and curiosity. What can be very impactful is giving the child a safe outdoor space and setting aside gadgets to allow for uninterrupted time to play. As these spaces tend to be counterintuitive to everything that can be seen as a hallmark of productivity and measurable progress, unstructured play allows the children to build resilience, independence, and joy.

Giving Children the Freedom to Play

More than just being childhood, unstructured play confers a wide range of benefits since children learn to manage social dynamics, solve problems independently, and bring their creativity into life which puts them better prepared for the challenges of adulthood. In this natural form of play, people lay down a foundation for lifelong skills to achieve balanced wellbeing and success.

The next time you catch your child playing carefree—maybe using a stick as a wand or a rock as a pet—take the time to be thankful for the developmental steps.

For new mothers struggling with breastfeeding, artificial intelligence can offer something doctors often cannot: an answer at 2 am.

But a new report is raising concerns about what happens when those instant responses replace professional medical advice.

A national survey commissioned by Orlando Health found that 51% of women aged 18 to 44 would first turn to an AI chatbot, social media platform or search engine if they had an urgent breastfeeding question.

Only 29% said they would first contact a doctor or lactation consultant, while 21% would turn to family or friends.

The findings highlight a growing challenge as new parents increasingly use AI to navigate pregnancy, caring for their infants and breastfeeding.

Is AI Advice Always Reliable?

AI can quickly explain clinical terms, suggest possible causes for a problem and provide general breastfeeding information. But it cannot examine whether the baby is actually getting enough milk.

“There are certain questions that can't be answered by AI,” said Erynne Bowers, M.D., a pediatrician with Orlando Health Physician Associates.

Bowers said roughly one-third of mothers who come to her with breastfeeding concerns have already received inaccurate advice from AI. Some of the misinformation involves recommendations about how much milk a baby should consume or how frequently the baby should be fed. The expert says that's where generic advice from AI can become misleading and dangerous.

Also read: Could Light-Controlled Nanobots Revolutionise Breast Cancer Treatment? Indian Researchers Explore The Possibility

Feeding Pattern Is Different For Every Baby

A baby's nutritional needs depend on several factors, including age, birth weight, growth trajectory, medical history and feeding efficiency.

Doctors also examine the baby's weight gain, hydration, urine and stool patterns, alertness and developmental progress. They may observe the baby's latch, tongue movement and coordination between sucking, swallowing and breathing. These assessments cannot be done by an AI chatbot.

A baby may spend a long time at the breast but transfer very little milk. Another may feed for a shorter period but feed efficiently. A generic feeding schedule therefore cannot explain the entire problem.

Also read: Breastfeeding Can Help Reduce Mothers' Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Breast Cancer and More

How Incorrect Advice Can Create A Cycle?

Experts warn that telling a mother to feed less frequently, for example, could potentially reduce the baby's calorie intake while also lowering breast stimulation.

The report also describes the experience of Florida mother Emily Hunziker, whose newborn son began losing weight despite her efforts to breastfeed exclusively.

She worked with a pediatrician and lactation specialist, used a combination of pumping, bottle-feeding and supplemental formula while continuing to support her breastfeeding goals. Her son is now thriving and growing up well.

Also read: Breastfeeding Vs Mixed Feeding: Which Is Right For Your Baby? Experts Explain

Should New Mothers Stop Using AI For Breastfeeding Advice?

It does not mean that new mothers should completely stop using AI. AI can be useful for understanding medical terminology, preparing questions for a doctor or finding reliable resources. But it should not become the final decision-maker when an infant's nutrition or growth is at stake.

Warning signs like poor weight gain, unusual sleepiness, dehydration, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulties, severe pain or a sudden drop in feeding require medical assessment from a doctor rather than an automated generic advice.

Relying excessively on an AI chatbot for answers may delay seeking a physician's help which could, in turn, delay clinical examination and treatment.

Excessive consumption of cow’s milk has been linked to severe iron deficiency in young children. A Queensland specialist has also warned that in the past two years, three toddlers died after developing extreme iron-deficiency anaemia.

According to ABC News, the children were drinking more than 1 litre of cow’s milk a day.

Queensland Children’s Hospital haematologist Dr Sally Campbell said the toddlers were otherwise healthy but developed severe anaemia before infections like viral illnesses took a toll on their health.

“They were drinking more than one litre of cow’s milk per day. This resulted in them developing extreme iron deficiency anaemia and sadly, dying,” Campbell said.

She explained that severe anaemia leaves children with too few red blood cells to deliver enough oxygen to vital organs. A seemingly routine viral infection can therefore become severe and even fatal.

“One small virus can unfortunately be life-threatening when you’ve got a chronic anaemic state,” Campbell said.

Why Can Excessive Cow Milk Consumption Cause Iron Deficiency?

Also read: Should Children Take Protein Powders? A Dietitian’s Perspective

Consuming large quantities of milk can reduce a child’s appetite for iron-rich foods like meat, legumes and iron-fortified foods.

Dairy can also interfere with iron absorption. In growing children, whose iron requirements are high, this can gradually push iron reserves to a dangerous low level.

Research from the ORIGINS Project, a large longitudinal birth cohort following around 10,000 Western Australian children, has found widespread low iron levels among young children.

Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University and The University of Western Australia published their findings in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2025.

Using the World Health Organization’s ferritin threshold, the researchers found iron deficiency in 15% of one-year-olds and 20% of three-year-olds.

Professor Desiree Silva, co-director of ORIGINS and Professor of Paediatrics at The University of Western Australia, has described the problem as a “hidden health crisis”.

She said iron is essential for immunity, oxygen transport and healthy development, while low iron can contribute to tiredness, lethargy, poor sleep and difficulty in feeding.

Also read: Study Links Excessive Screen Time To Poorer Body Image in Teens With Skin Conditions

How Much Cow’s Milk Is Too Much?

Queensland health guidance recommends no cow’s milk as a drink before 12 months. From one to five years, children should have no more than about 500 ml, or two cups, a day.

Importantly, this does not mean parents need to eliminate milk from a toddler’s diet. The concern arises when excessive intake of milk replaces a balanced and nutritious diet.

Campbell said the problem is preventable and urged parents to adopt better dietary habits for toddlers.

Parents must also look for signs of low iron levels in their children. Symptoms like persistent tiredness, poor appetite, development concerns or unusual changes in behaviour should not be simply dismissed as fussy eating or a toddler phase. Severe iron deficiency can develop quietly, making early assessment and treatment important.

Eye specialists worldwide are raising the alarm, as myopia, or nearsightedness, is on the rise among children at a rate that is making eye doctors and pediatricians reconsider how they assess young patients.

What used to be a mild inconvenience that could be corrected with a pair of glasses is now being treated as a long-term health concern. High myopia in childhood is associated with an increased risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. This is not just an anecdotal change.

Public health professionals say the development is likely due to a variety of causes, including more time spent on screens, less time outdoors, and more strenuous academics, which most online work is entangled with. The good news is that myopia can be controlled if it is discovered early.

Optometrists have an expanding toolbox of options, including customized contact lenses, Ayurvedic eye drops, and more time spent outdoors, that can help to delay its advancement in children. The trick is to catch it early. Seven warning flags to look out for as a parent

1. Squinting To See Distant Objects

Because myopia often develops gradually, many parents don't realize their child is struggling to see clearly until a school vision screening flags it or until the child is already several dioptres into nearsightedness.

A child who consistently squints to read the whiteboard, to watch TV from across the room, or to notice a buddy coming towards them is usually making an instinctive attempt to make a murky image clearer. Squinting alters the shape of the eye's opening for a brief period, which can help bring things that are far away into marginally better focus — but it's a signal, not a solution.

2. Sitting Too Close To TV Or Screens

A child who always sits inches from the screen, holds tablets or books very near to their face, or asks for a front-row seat at school may be compensating for trouble seeing things far away.

Also read: El Salvador Becomes First Country In Central America To Eliminate Trachoma: WHO

3. Regular Headaches Or Eye Strain

Children who have difficulty focusing on things that are far away have eyes to work harder all day. This added stress may manifest as frequent headaches, especially after school, screen time, or reading.

4. Poor Performance In School or Attention

Kids don’t usually say, “I can’t see the board. Instead, a sudden dip in grades, difficulties reproducing notes or seeming distracted and uninterested in class can be an ignored symptom of undetected vision problems.

5. Holding Books Or Devices Unusually Close

Similar to sitting close to screens, a child who holds a book, tablet, or phone very near their face may be doing so instinctively to bring text into focus.

6. Rubbing Eyes Frequently Or Excessive Blinking

While rubbing eyes and blinking can have many causes, when paired with other signs on this list, they can indicate visual fatigue from the eyes constantly trying to compensate for blur.

Also read: Tadalafil: Common Male-Potency Drug May Raise Glaucoma Risk In Men, Finds Study

7. Complaints That Things "Look Fuzzy" From A Distance

Sometimes the sign is simply the child telling you directly — that the street signs look blurry, that they can't see the ball until it's close, or that faces "look fuzzy" from across the room.

These direct complaints are often the clearest signs that your child is experiencing visibility issues. While rubbing eyes and blinking can have many causes, when paired with other signs on this list, they can indicate visual fatigue from the eyes constantly trying to compensate for blur.

Why Early Detection Matters

Pediatric eye specialists usually advocate regular vision examinations beginning in early childhood and continuing through the school years, as this is the age when myopia most typically first develops and progresses the fastest — between 6 and 12 years of age. If any of the following indicators are noticed, parents are recommended to schedule a full eye exam with an optometrist or eye specialist rather than waiting for the next standard school screening.

Common lifestyle adjustments include more unstructured outdoor time, regular breaks during near-work tasks (following the general “20-20-20” guideline of looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes), and proper lighting for reading and homework, alongside professional treatment options.

By Dr Mandeep Singh Basu, Ayurvedic Eye Specialist, Dr Basu Eye Care Centre