The Power of Play in Early Childhood Development

 

Play is more than just a time to have fun; it is a crucial concept for early childhood development and health. 

It is an important way that allow children to learn about themselves and the world around them. It allows them to express their creative thinking and take healthy risks as they develop their interests, capabilities, and lifelong learning skills.

Recent research has shown that there is true power in play. Through it, children develop the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills they need to grow and succeed even in the most challenging situations.

The benefits do not come from just playing alone, but also with other children, and with the adults in their lives. Playing together builds strong, healthy relationships. It allows the adults to relax and view their children as the smart, capable young people they are—especially when the children lead the play!

In this article, we explore the power of play in early childhood development. By examining the nine important advantages, we reveal the various ways play influences early childhood development and list some ideas to aid playful learning.

Types of Play in Early Childhood

As children grow up, they play in various ways. These are the types of play as seen in early childhood development:

1. Unoccupied Play:

This is when infants, from birth to about 3 months, move around randomly without a clear direction or purpose. It feels like they are trying to understand their bodies and the world around them.

2. Solitary Play:

From age 3 to 18 months, babies tend to play by themselves. They are seen grabbing and exploring objects without paying much attention to any children close by.

3. Onlooker Play:

They watch other children play without joining in. So, they learn from watching and listening to others.

4. Parallel Play:

Here, children play with others without interacting much, from 18 months to 2 years old. They might play with similar toys but on their own.

5. Associative Play:

As from 3 to 4 years old, children start socializing more with other kids. They play together without following any strict rules and share toys and ideas.

6. Social Play:

Children around 3 years old start interacting more with others. They learn to share and cooperate with others and they begin to understand social rules and values.

7. Motor-Physical Play:

This type of play involves them running, jumping, and playing physically demanding games like tag. It aids them in exercising and building strength while learning social skills.

8. Constructive Play:

Here, they create things using blocks, sand, or drawing materials. They tend to explore objects and discover patterns while gaining confidence in their abilities.

9. Expressive Play:

They use materials like paints, clay, or instruments to express their emotions and creativity. Parents can play too, to encourage expression.

10. Fantasy/ Pretend Play:

Here, they pretend to be someone else or imagine different scenarios. It promotes creativity and teaches them about the world. It also improves more complex negotiation, communication and language skills.

These different kinds of play help to serve as building blocks for your child’s development and growth. As they transition from unoccupied play in infancy to cooperative play in the preschool years, they are able to acquire crucial skills – such as basic motor skills to complex social abilities.

Age-specific ideas to aid playful learning

Learning is best achieved when you tap into a child's natural urge to play, rather than just using outside factors like test scores. 

As parents, you are encouraged to use play to achieve your child's health and developmental milestones, right from birth. Some examples of ways to achieve this include:

From Birth to 6 months old

Playful learning starts with your baby's first smile.

Smiling back teaches your baby a critical social-emotional skill. Mimicking your baby's coos and babbles and having those back-and-forth "conversations"  by using your baby's sounds as a starter. This type of play forms the foundation of social language skills.

Show them intriguing objects such as a brightly coloured toy. Allow them to bring it to their mouth, so they can explore and experience new textures.

Place them in different positions so they can see and perceive the world from different angles. Tummy time play under supervision is great for this.

Age 7 to 12 months old

Make sure your baby has a safe environment to crawl and explore.

Give them the opportunities to learn that their actions can have effects—for instance, when they drop a toy and it falls to the ground. Place some toys within their reach so they can take them out and play with them.

Show your baby their different facial expressions by using a mirror.

Expose them to a variety of sensory experiences. Allow them to play outside on the grass or catch bubbles.

Age 1 to 3 years old

When deciding on child care and preschools, select those that include unstructured playtime in their curriculum. Playful learning, which allows children to take the lead and follow their curiosity, should be the major focus of high-quality early childhood education.

Teach your child to play with blocks, empty containers, wooden spoons, shape sorters and puzzles. These simple and inexpensive objects are the best ways to support your child's creativity. Remember that, it is the parent's and caregivers' presence and attention that improves children―not some fancy electronic gadgets.

Give them the opportunities to play with their peers, under supervision. 

Help them to explore their body through different movements—like, walking, jumping and standing on one leg.

Read regularly to and with your child and encourage pretend play based on these stories. Sing songs to them and play rhythms so they can learn and join in the fun.

Age 4 to 6 years old

Create opportunities that encourage your child to sing, dance and draw. These activities improve their cognitive, social-emotional and multisensory skills.

Tell them stories and ask them questions about it.

Allow your child the time and space to act out imaginary scenes, roles and activities. Let them move between make-believe games and reality—for instance, playing house and helping out with household chores.

Let them have the time to interact with friends to improve their socializing skills and build friendships.

Give them room to try a variety of movements in a safe place—for example, swinging, climbing, hopping, and doing somersaults.

Learn to balance media use and screen time with "real world" activities for your children. Age-appropriate media can have some benefits for older children, particularly when you watch and play with them. But know that real-time social interactions and play are much better for children than digital media for learning. You can have a family media plan to set ground rules like no media at the dinner table or in the bedroom.

Benefits of Play in Early Childhood Development

From pretend play to physical activities, children get so many benefits from indulging in the different kinds of play.

Below are some of the benefits of play in early childhood development: 

1. It promotes cognitive development in children.

2. It maximizes social skills and facilitates emotional regulation.

3. Physical play promotes physical fitness in children.

4. Pretend play sessions, storytelling hours or interactive games help foster language development.

5. Imaginative play grooms children’s creativity and pushes them to explore their imagination

6. Playing promotes self-discovery in children. It provides a safe environment for them to explore their individuality

7. Exposure to different types of play improves their cognitive flexibility and adaptability.

8. Playtime stimulates curiosity in children and gives them the room to explore the world around them.

9. Playtime strengthens family bonds and builds stronger relationships. It fosters trust, communication, and emotional intimacy among family members.

Play as a toxic stress buster

In addition to improving a child's health and development, playtime helps to build safe, stable and nurturing relationships that help to fight against toxic stress and build social-emotional resilience. That mutual joy and one-on-one interaction that occurs during playtime can help manage the response to the body's stress.

A Note to Remember

The importance of playtime in early childhood development cannot be over-emphasized.

It is not just about having fun but giving the children the tools they need to succeed in every aspect of their lives. 

From improving cognitive skills to fostering emotional intelligence, play is the foundation upon which the futures of our children are built. It empowers children to become confident, creative, and compassionate individuals, ready to take on whatever challenges they encounter.

So, the next time your child asks to play with you, grab the opportunity!!!

Share in the joy of discovery as you interact with each other. Encourage playtime, both at home and in educational settings, and together, we can create a world where every child can seize the chance to reach their full potential through the power of play!

Dr. Favvy

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Disclaimer

The information on this blog is just for educational purposes only.

It should not be used as a replacement for the medical care and advise of your child’s pediatrician.

Always consult your pharmacist before giving your child any drug.