Never underestimate child’s play – although it might look like simple leisure time, when kids are fighting dragons, riding unicorns and making potions they are actually developing crucial life skills and preparing their brains for the many challenges of adulthood.
Here are some of the many benefits of children’s playtime:
Playing Boosts Creativity and Imagination
When kids play games, they try new things, imagine, invent, create, conquer their fears and interact with other children and the world around them. The context of playing is ideal for supporting and developing children’s creative and imaginative thought because it offers a fun, risk-free environment where they can explore and express themselves.
Playing is Learning
Playing is very important for the healthy brain development of kids, as it is how young children learn to engage and interact with the world around them. Playing allows children to use their creativity and have fun while developing their imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. When kids play they can create and explore a world that they can master and use to develop new skills, discover their areas of interest, practice their decision-making skills and engage with their passions – all of which leads to enhanced confidence and resilience that they will need as they grow older.
Playing Boosts Language, Communication and Social Skills
Through play, children learn to make and practice new sounds, try out new vocabulary, exercise their imagination through storytelling and practice their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. When kids play (especially when this play is self-directed), they learn how to work in groups, share, encourage, support, negotiate and resolve conflicts. Playtime can also help preschoolers to learn awareness of other people’s feelings and to regulate their own emotions – skills that will serve them very well as they move through life.
Playing is Physically Healthy and Increases Athletic Skills
In contrast to passive entertainment, like computer games or television shows, playing builds active and healthy bodies. When kids play, they develop physical, cognitive and emotional skills without even realizing it. When they touch their toes, they learn about coordination, balance and spatial relationships. When they play with a ball, they strengthen their fine-motor skills. When they dance, they learn about rhythm and how to move to a beat. Playtime also increases their fitness, which has countless short term and long-term benefits on their health.
Playing is Fun!
Most importantly, playing makes children happy! Playing allows kids to socialize, develop new skills, make friends, accomplish new things and learn about themselves and others.
If you’d like to know more about our child care services, our learning through play approach or play-based curriculums, don’t hesitate to contact us.