For children, play is naturally enjoyable. And
since it is their active engagement in things that interest them, play should be
child-led, or at least child-inspired, for it to remain relevant and meaningful
to them. Children at play are happily lost in themselves; they are in their own
realm of wonder, exploration, and adventure, pulling parents in at times with a
frequent “Let’s play, mom!” as an open invitation into that world.
As early as infancy, children immerse themselves in play activities with the
purpose of making sense of the world around them. Play gives children the
opportunity to learn and experience things themselves, which is vital for their
development. Although peek-a-boo games seem pointless to adults, tots are awed
by the surprise that awaits them as they see the suddenly emerging faces of
people they love.
(Stages of Play)
During toddlerhood, children experience a motor-growth spurt that equips them to
solitarily fiddle with anything they can get their hands on – be it a
construction toy or the box from where it came.
Toddlers also love breaking into song, wiggling and jiggling to tunes, and
imitating finger plays they are commonly exposed to.
Preschoolers begin extending their play to involve others, whether they bring
others in at any stage of their game or they plan their game and its players’
way ahead. Their physical and motor skills allow them to widen their lay arena,
from dramatic play to table games to outdoor pursuits.
School-age children start appreciating organized play – such as innovated songs
and rhymes, games with rules, relays and other physical activities, sports and
projects that they can accomplish over a certain time frame.
Play Perks:
Why the big fuss about playing? Play benefits the child in ways that might be a
tad difficult for adults to imagine.
1. Play brings pure and utter joy.
A toddler who jumps into an empty box and runs around the house ‘driving a car’
shows the sheer happiness that play brings him or her. When children are asked
what they did in school and they answer ‘play,’ it is a clear sign that these
kids remember a feeling of genuine joy that is captured in this four-letter
word.
2. Play fosters socio-emotional learning.
What does a ten-month-old baby who shrieks at the sight of her stuffed toy have
in common with a ten-year-old boy who plays basketball with his friends? They
both deal with their confidence as they choose to embark on their play
activities. At the same time, they are displaying their independence in the
decisions that they make. These two children are also internalizing social rules
in their respective play situations: the baby waits patiently for her stuffed
toy to appear, while the school-age child has to contend with an impending loss
in a ball game.
3. Play hones physical and motor development.
Play often involves the use of the senses, the body, and the extremities. When
children play, they exercise their bodies for physical strength, fluidity of
movement, balance and coordination.
Perceptual-motor ability, or the capacity to coordinate what you perceive with
how you move, is an essential skill that preschoolers need to develop. A
three-year-old who is engrossed in digging, scooping, and pouring sand into a
container must match his or her perception of the space in front of him or her
with actual hand movements, so that he or she can successfully fulfill the motor
activity.
4. Play facilitates cognitive learning.
Play is vital to the intellectual development of a child. We live in a symbolic
world in which people need to decode words, actions, and numbers.
For young children, symbols do not naturally mean anything because they are just
arbitrary representations of actual objects. The role of play is for the child
to understand better cognitive concepts in ways that are enjoyable, real,
concrete, and meaningful to them. For instance, through play, a child is able to
comprehend that the equation 3 + 2 = 5 means ‘putting together’ his toy cars by
lining them up in his makeshift parking lot. When he combines 2 triangles to
make a square during block play, or writes down his score is a bowling game, the
child is displaying what he knows about shapes and numbers.
Through play, the child is constructing his or her worldview by constantly
working and reworking his understanding of concepts.
5. Play enhances language development.
Toddlers who are still grappling with words need to be immersed in oral language
so they can imitate what they hear. They benefit from songs and rhymes that
provide the basis for understanding how language works.
When these tots are playing with toys, adults model to them how language is used
to label objects or describe an event. At play, preschoolers use language to
interact, communicate ideas, and likewise learn from dialogues with more mature
members of society.
6. Play encourages creativity.
Barney the dinosaur was right about using imagination to make things happen. A
lump of Play-Doh suddenly turns into spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese; a
small towel transforms into a cape that completes a superhero’s wardrobe; and a
tin can serves as a drum that accompanies an aspiring rock artist. Play opens an
entire avenue for children to express themselves, show what they know and how
they feel, and to create their own masterpieces.
7. Play provides bonding opportunities.
Play is an important factor in child development. It provides for interaction,
experimentation, and moral development. Here are some ways by which parents can
encourage and support their children’s playtime.
- Let your child be the player-leader. Let children initiate their activity, set
their own theme, choose the parameters where the play will take place. Play
becomes a venue for children to express their feelings and be in control.
- Help them help themselves. When your 5-year-old asks for help, say, figuring
out how to piece a puzzle together, stop yourself from coming to her rescue and
first ask your child questions that allow him or her to help himself or herself.
Say, “Where do you think this piece should go?” Afterward, commend his or her
success.
- Play attention. Once you make a commitment to play with your child, watch for
the following signals: Does he or she want you to actively play a part in the
activity? Does he or she need encouragement? Is he or she tired or hungry? Does
he or she need to take a break?
- Have a play plan. If you seem to have little time for playing with your child,
consider using self-care chores to have fun with him or her. Also, get support
from other people in your household, like older siblings, household help, or the
child’s grandparents, so that they understand why play is important and how they
should continue to encourage it.
