In the name of Play

Even as an adult old enough to be at least six times a mother, I love to play. I like the feeling I get when I am in an environment where I can just let go of my inhibitions and laugh out loud, kick my shoes off and run around playfully. My children love it too. Even though I cannot keep up with their energy I love to join in their fun whenever I can. I always love it when we can play as a family; my heart wells up with emotion and I feel an unexplainable bonding that seems to draw us even closer together as a family. For a child, play is life. It is how they learn and make sense of the world. For adults, play is a form of relaxation when they finish their work. For young children, there is no differentiation between play, learning and work.This is why I wasn’t really very surprised when I stumbled across some research making a case for the benefits of playing in child development. Play supports holistic development Children learn by doing. They learn best through direct hands-on experience. Play is a developmentally appropriate process for learning because children engage in it instinctively. The process of play facilitates the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of children. It also enhances their interactive social skills, teaching them how to relate to others in a fun environment. Play supports physical development Children perform best when their bodies are strong, flexible and coordinated, and when their senses are functioning. Play is essential in the development of sensorial and motor coordination. It helps children keep physically fit, attain and maintain good health, which is important for optimal development. Play supports socio-emotional development In play, children express and work through their fears, anxieties and desires. Children at play devise challenges, face those challenges, and in the process deal with traumatic events and disturbing situations in their lives. They resolve personal problems for which the real world offers no solution. Children at play feel that they are in control of their world, which gives them a sense of control over their environment. This builds a sense of competence that strengthens their self-esteem and confidence. Play supports cognitive development Play is an active form of learning that unites mind, body and spirit. Children’s cognitive structures function best in this unified mode. Much of what we learn cannot be taught directly but must be constructed through our own experience. Children must retain their playful attitude - a learning mode that contributes to flexibility in problem solving. Play also enables children to learn through curiosity, invention and persistence, and become self-motivated learners. Indeed, your child gets more than just fun from playing. He’ll also get your message of love if you’ll let go of the mommy stance for a while and join him in the fun! Without playtime, the child is like a prisoner, removed from everything that makes his life meaningful.