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Posted on November 14, 2007 by Ellie Dixon | Posted under Kids
Child Development - the Importance of Play
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For a child, though,however, there is no more constructive activity than play. When considering the importance of play you should take into account the following points: Play allows a young child to be "in charge." Consider this - in their normal lives, they're small and powerless, always being told what to do, and how to do it. Without an adult around, they're in charge! Play helps children learn about the world in which they dwell. They can investigate and reach conclusions, test their theories, spatial relationships, explore cause and effect, societal roles and family values. Such is the importance of play, that there's almost no area of life about which it can't teach a child something. Play develops self-esteem. Children will often play at something they know they can do well, at which they can be successful. Play develops social skills. Children will start off playing with inanimate and non-threatening objects, like cuddly toys, shapes etc, so practising their interactive skills. Later, playing with other children will build on this foundation as they learn to share, take turns, assert themselves and begin to empathise with others. The importance of play with parents shouldn't be underestimated either, as research shows that children whose parents play with them ultimately develop superior social skills. Play also provides the opportunity for children to work out their emotions. The importance of play in dealing with difficult or unpleasant emotions is immense. A child who's anxious about going to the dentist, for example, may deal with the worry by setting up a clinic for dolls with toothache. Play aids language development. Think of the large number of words a toddler uses during play, many of them repeatedly, reinforcing their language skills. Play allows children to grow beyond their years. They can pretend to be all sorts of things in play - a doctor, a surgeon, a civil engineer even !!(think of those bricks) Finally, don't forget to take into account the importance of play in stimulating your child's creativity and imagination - making a castle in the sand, or a car garage out of a shoe box, taking an order in their own (imaginary) restaurant or dressing up as a king or queen - these all allow children to stretch the limits of their world and experience the fun in make-believe. Of course when you're pondering the importance of play, don't forget reading is just as important - please visit my website, Scruffy's Bookshop, for some beautiful illustrated books and while you're there don�t forget to sign up for your free monthly newsletter and gifts! About The Author: Ellie Dixon lives in Devon, England with her husband and 2 huge Newfoundland dogs. She adores vintage illustrated children's books and loves to restore and edit them for today's kids to rediscover. Visit Ellie's website, Scruffy's Bookshop, to view a new online toolkit called "Kids of Character". It's designed to help you raise responsible, caring kids in a fun way. Don't forget to sign up for her free monthly newsletter while you're there! |
Tags: IMPORTANCE OF PLAY, EARLY LEARNING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PLAYTIME, TODDLER, CHILD
