Play is an essential part of your child's development. Because, alongside all the hard work at school and paying attention in class, playing provides the necessary relaxation. But that's not all. Did you know that children learn a tremendous amount while playing with each other and even alone? In this blog, you'll discover why play is so important for your child's development.
The Educational Function of Play
Children learn a lot through play, more than we might realize. Not only does your child develop new skills from the act of playing itself, but playing is also an effective method for teaching children new things. Through play, children can relax and unconsciously learn a great deal. Especially because playing with friends is much more enjoyable than doing homework.
What Do Children Learn While Playing?
There are various things that children can learn while playing. This largely depends on your child's age and the type of game you're playing together. Younger children, for example, learn how to walk, kick a ball, or care for a doll. But there's much more to it; there are many other skills and things children can learn through play.
One example is independent thinking about situations and learning to make choices. Additionally, social skills are put to the test when your child plays with others. And what about language skills and motor skills? Explaining a game and communicating require your child to both understand the game and explain it to others. This helps them further develop these skills.
The Psychological Benefits of Play
In addition to relaxation and skill development, there's another element that makes play healthy: the processing of emotions and events. Allowing children to play helps them better process events of the day. Even when an unpleasant situation has occurred, play can provide a solution for children. Here are a few different forms of play:
Playing Alone
In one of our previous blogs, we've already discussed this: letting your child play alone is extremely beneficial for the development of their imagination and creativity. Many people might think that leaving a child to play alone is sad, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it's healthy for the brain!
Reading
When your child starts learning to read, playing with language is a great idea. This way, you encourage your child to expand their vocabulary or write the letters of the alphabet in a playful manner. To further challenge your child during play, you can ask them to, for example, finish the story you're reading or describe the princess's castle. These are all small things that further develop your child's imagination and language skills.
