The focus in public schools on improving their score on high stakes standardized tests has led to increased time on academics at the cost of recess in elementary grades and play time in kindergartens.
Dr. Stuart Brown of the National Institute of Play (www.nifplay.org) found that "healthy, varied play in childhood is absolutely necessary for the development of empathy, social altruism, and..to handle stress.
Lack of natural, spontaneous, free-spirited play during childhood seemed to be a common thread in the histories of "horribly violent mass murderers, really off-the-wall felony drunk drivers," and others "on the fringes."
Not only does free play enhance learning capability, but It could also lead to a decrease in the incidence of violence.