Every parent wants to see their child develop into a well-adjusted and independent adult. But preparing them for the world requires a lot of dedication and commitment to teaching them valuable life lessons.
Early on, children learn through playing. When a child plays, they are using and developing many different and important parts of their brain. It allows them to be imaginative and creative while developing their physical and emotional strength.
A healthy pattern of play is important for the intellectual growth of our children. Encouraging children to play with others around their age can lead to increased happiness.
But what exactly does playing do for our children? Let’s find out.
It is widely known that play is important and directly impacts brain development. General play activities will positively impact neurological development and can increase many different areas of a child’s thinking, including their confidence, communication, intelligence, and emotions.
Simple activities can help your child grow their cognitive abilities to the next step. Common cognitive activities include:
These may seem simple on their own, but together, these activities form the building blocks that nurture and enable a child to develop.
Regular play helps children grow emotionally in many different ways. It can limit anxiety and irritability in children by positively showing that change can be a good thing.
While playing, children will learn to deal with many of life’s challenges in a way that is still positive and in a way they can understand. Some examples of this include:
A few examples of emotional growth activities include:
Playing teaches them how to interact with others, what response is appropriate for a given situation, and how to regulate their emotions when things don’t go their way. All of these skills are valuable and will help them become well-adjusted adults that are prepared for the world.
One of the most important things playing can do for a child is to introduce them to the positives of group interaction.
Human beings are social creatures. We communicate in a variety of ways, including:
At daycare, several children will play together regularly. The children will quickly get used to this type of communication and learn to have fun. A game of ball or the creation of an imaginative world is more fun when in a group. According to the Victorian early years Learning and Development framework, playing in a group at an early age will provide your child with the necessary social skills they will need to interact with new people as they grow.
Our children must develop the social skills they’ll need to navigate through life’s challenges.
When a child begins to play regularly, they very quickly start doing it on their own. A parent or sibling might join in at first, but eventually, the child’s mind will take over, and they will begin to experience life at their own pace.
Independent playtime even serves as a form of pleasure for your child, and its effects are long-reaching.
Boredom may even become a source of creativity for your child. According to Dr. Bruce D. Perry, boredom is a necessary stimulant that serves as a motivator to encourage your child to develop their own solutions to boredom. It’s through this under-stimulation that a creative world is unlocked.
Your child’s creativity will take over when you let them develop their own solutions to their boredom. This is extremely beneficial to their growth as a human being.
It may include something as simple as them wandering off and taking a random item like lego blocks and working by themselves to create something, Through this, they are learning to act independently. While group play is fun and rewarding, independent play is important to show them that acting independently is enjoyable and rewarding as well.
Looking for independent activities for your child? Here are a few examples:
A child will develop their problem-solving skills when playing by themselves. They will learn how to solve problems, seek out new approaches, and to ask for help when needed.
Playing will allow children to be active even before they know what physical activity is. They will be on their feet and use up energy in a way that encourages further physical activity.
Without knowing it, they will develop their reflexes, movement control, motor skills, and balance. Their muscles will begin to get stronger, and they will get their first introduction to cardio exercise.
Physical activity can include anything, such as:
Don’t be afraid to ask your child what types of physical activities they like. They will be far more engaged if you do something they enjoy doing.
An energetic and active child is a healthy child. The routines they learn early on will influence their personalities and who they become.
Daycares offer our children the perfect place to meet others and play. This is often the first scenario for many children to experience life without their parents nearby. They will learn to operate around other children for the first time, and play will become a major part of their everyday lives.
Play-based learning stimulates the development process. Children will learn about the world, themselves, and others while playing at daycare. It will become a huge factor in the intellectual growth of your child and establishes the building blocks that will prepare them for their first day of school.
While play may just look like normal fun that every child should have, it is much more than that. The daycare experience helps your child develop essential social, problem-solving, and other cognitive skills.
These are the same skills that they will rely on for their entire lives.
Most children will begin playing on their own at a very young age, especially if they are encouraged by their parents and family.
They will pick up a toy and start swinging it around. Eventually, their movements will get more defined and, just like that, they’ll be playing.
By encouraging movement, providing simple toys, and attempting to play with your children, parents can introduce these important activities at a very early age.
Daycare is one of the best ways to promote active play, both creatively and physically. Children will get the opportunity to play with others without their parents guiding them. This alone helps them prepare for their eventual first day of school.
Many children find making the jump from being at home to Kindergarten to be tough if they haven’t been prepared through daycare. This is the first opportunity to promote the positives of having a friend and playing a game with them.
Remember – an active child is a healthy child.
