The Importance Of Play In Early Learning

By Author: Ellie Dixon
Total Articles: 21
Comment this article

Play is common throughout the animal kingdom - whether it's a puppy chasing its tail, or young birds swooping through the air, the importance of play to youngsters must not be underestimated. Play is a major part of growing up and researchers believe it's critical to make sure children reach their full potential in life. Research in animals show brain connections growing during periods of play, and there's no reason to suppose the same is not true of young children. Parents don't always understand the importance of play though, and in the modern competitive society, the temptation is to stop your children "wasting time" and to put the time to what they believe is more constructive use.

For a child, though,however, there is no more constructive activity than play. When considering the importance of play you should take into account the following points:

Play allows a young child to be "in charge." Think about this - in their everyday lives, they're small and powerless, always being given instructions. Without an adult around, they're in charge!

Play assists children in learning the world in which they live. ...
... They can investigate and discover, test their theories, spatial relationships, explore cause and effect, societal roles and family values. Such is the importance of play, that there's virtually no area of life about which it can't teach a child something.

Play develops self-esteem. Children will often play at something they know they can do well, at which they can be successful.

Play develops social skills. Children will begin playing with inanimate and non-threatening objects, like cuddly toys, bricks etc, so practising their interactive skills. As they grow playing with other youngsters will build on this foundation as they learn to share, take turns, assert themselves and start to empathise with others.

The importance of play with parents shouldn't be underestimated either, as research shows that children whose parents play with them ultimately develop superior social skills.

Play also gives an opportunity for children to work out their emotions. The importance of play in working through difficult or unpleasant emotions is enormous. A child who's worried about going to the dentist, for example, may deal with the anxiety by setting up a clinic for dolls with toothache.

Play helps with language development. Think of the large number of words a toddler uses during play, many of them repeatedly, reinforcing their language skills.

Play permits children to grow beyond their years. They can pretend to be all sorts of things in play - a doctor, a surgeon, a civil engineer even !!(think of those bricks)

Finally, remember to consider the importance of play in stimulating your child's creativity and imagination - making a castle in the sand, or a car garage out of a shoe box, taking an order in their own (imaginary) restaurant or dressing up as a king or queen - these all allow children to stretch the limits of their world and experience the fun in make-believe.

Of course when you're pondering the importance of play, don't forget reading is just as important - please visit my website, Scruffy's Bookshop, for some beautiful illustrated books and while you're there don�t forget to sign up for your free monthly newsletter and gifts!