The prevalence of children with mental health problems is 13.9% (children in lower household income) and among the specific mental health problems are children with peer problems, children with emotional problems (including children who feel unhappy and often worry), conduct problems, hyperactivity and lack of pro-social skills. 

How do we help them? They are Malaysia’s tomorrow.

Well, these are known consequences of play deprivation and weak parent-child bond. 4 in 10 households in Malaysia do not have toys for children less than 5 years old (UNICEF). Unfortunately, Malaysian children in lower-income areas also expressed that they do not feel safe to play in their housing area and there is a lack of safe space for them to play. Parents with economic stressors of daily living have less time, energy, and resources to play with their children. 

Play is essential to children’s development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play is so important that it has been recognized by the United Nation High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. Parents need to be aware and knowledgeable on how to stimulate children’s development through play since birth. A study has shown, toddlers who were given weekly play sessions to improve mother-child interactions for 2 years were followed to adulthood have better educational achievement, less depression, and less violent behavior. The effects of play and strong parent-child relationships on brain plasticity since early childhood build a strong foundation for lifelong health and well-being.  

We have been working (in collaboration with Toy Libraries Malaysia – NGO that help to set up community Toy Library in the underprivileged community) with children and their families from lower-income households in urban Kuala Lumpur and observed that the children are lacking in certain play skills which are essential in helping them how to learn in school. They are not diagnostically delayed in their development but the lack of play skills is significant to cause learning difficulties hence they are not achieving their full potential in academic and overall well-being. Parents are not well equipped with parenting skills to recognize these issues and opportunities to provide healthy development for their children.

Ilisya, 6 years old is having a problem with reading and writing. She has low self-esteem because of her difficulties. When she writes, there’s no space in between words and it is difficult for her to read because she has trouble with spatial vision skills. Her condition improved with several play sessions that stimulate the skills and it helped her to perform better in school. The play sessions also strengthen the bond between her and her mother. Thus we have prevented possible bully and depression.

The current pandemic of Covid-19 has worsened the development and behavioural problems in children. Children do not stop to develop and we should not stop too. Some parents do live in a pause motion during the pandemic and after about a year, we do see the effects on children. In addition to prolonged screen time in very young children. 

Aneesa, 3 years 7 months old only speaks single words and has not been able to communicate with her parents. She also has tantrums. She is otherwise developmentally appropriate for her age in terms of other domains. The parents are still treating her as if she is 1 year old, she was given everything she needed in daily living that she does not have to request for it to the point that she almost develop autistic behaviour because of lack of stimulation and play interaction with parents. The family was given play sessions and as expected, she has had a lot of improvement.  

There are a lot more stories of the individual child and their families.  Most children are having poor executive function skills which can easily be learned through play. They all benefit from the developmental and play screening done at their PPR housing as well as at the clinic (Klinik Kenit) and subsequent play intervention at the Toy Library (Community Toy Library at the PPR and Kenit Toy Library). Play does not only help them to thrive but it can also be the way for children to express their negative issues or trauma and we use play to treat the ones who have undergone certain trauma in life. Play also improve caregiver mental health condition like maternal depression as it is a risk factor for poor physical growth and development in young children. 

Klinik Kenit is registered as a primary healthcare clinic with a focus on early child health services. It serves as the first contact for any health needs at all ages. There are two core services in helping the family to support the healthy development of their children, the infant mental health services and the toy library. Early childhood is the crucial period of rapid changes when the architecture of the brain is most open to the influence of relationships and experiences. Parents need to know how to be secure hands and safe haven for their children, help the children to organize their feelings and appropriately respond to the children’s needs. This will prevent a lot of social issues in older children. And the best way to strengthen this is in the primary healthcare setting where parents will bring their children for regular check-ups. Measuring play is a developmental domain that is critical to early intervention. 

A healthy life is an outcome of sustainable development and the best investment is to pay more attention to young children and their families now.