Playtime too important to mess with - expert

A loss of playtime in early childhood is creating an epidemic of Australian children suffering depression and mental illness, an adolescent psychologist says.

About one in four young people battle a mental illness before they reach the age of 18.

Adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg says it's important children learn resilience in their early years and this can be done effectively through play.

"Children teach themselves to crawl, stand and walk through repetitious practice play," Dr Carr-Gregg said.

"At the preschool level, children engage in dramatic play and learn who is a leader, who is a follower, who is outgoing, who is shy.

"They also learn to negotiate their own conflicts."

Play not only promotes social skills but children who receive an enriched, play-oriented parenting and early childhood program have higher IQs at age five than other children deprived of such experience, Dr Carr-Gregg said.

An unintended consequence of technological development is that children have moved indoors.

"Children who might once have enjoyed a pick-up game of football now watch the game on TV, sitting on their couch," he said.

An increase in the number of working parents has contributed to children spending their free time in adult-oriented activities instead of childhood play, he said.