Let your child play!
“It is a happy talent to know how to play” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Not just a talent – a necessity, in fact.
In our modern digital world, “play” might now be synonymous with devices, technology, and social media. And that’s okay, in moderation. But we’re missing an essential trick of childhood development if we move away from simple play, outdoor play, honest-to-goodness traditional play.
What the experts say
All good news on the play front! Credible scientific research highlights these, amongst other benefits of regular playtime for kids.
- Cognitive skills include problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and imagination. Play encourages the development of these skills by enhancing your child’s memory, attention span and language growth.
- For a great foundation in social skills, playtime is a great way for kids to learn cooperation, sharing, conflict resolution and empathy.
- An important characteristic of regular playtime entails learning how to self-regulate emotions and develop self-control while building resilience.
- Active play contributes to the development of fine and gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. It helps stimulate physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
- We can’t discount the importance of play in helping with a child’s brain development. Studies show that play stimulates brain growth and strengthens neural connections. It enhances the development of executive functions, such as planning, decision-making and impulse control.
- Play-based learning approaches have been shown to positively impact academic performance, particularly in early childhood education. Play also helps build your child’s literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills that form a solid foundation for future learning.
What do we mean by “play”?
Think back on your own youth. Play is everything from hopscotch to skipping, playing catch, kicking a ball in the garden, hide-and-seek, board game competitions, charades, puzzles, and drawing. For toddlers, it’s building blocks, tummy time and little playdates with other kids.
Play means enjoyment, exploration, and learning. It involves spontaneous and imaginative interactions with objects, people, or the environment. Play is characterised by its intrinsically motivated nature, where the process itself is valued rather than the end result.
In essence, play is a fundamental and natural human behaviour that allows children to explore, experiment, acquire new knowledge and skills, build relationships, and express themselves.
Cool play trends for kids
With a growing emphasis on preparing children for future careers in these fields, there has been an increased focus on toys and activities that promote STEM learning. These can include building sets, coding toys and science experiment kits.
Open-ended play refers to activities that have no specific outcome or prescribed rules. This type of play encourages creativity, problem-solving and imagination. Examples include building with blocks, grappling with playdough or engaging in pretend play.
Cooperative play involves children working together toward a common goal that requires cooperation and teamwork. Cooperative board games, group building activities and team sports are examples of this trend.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, or using any medication.