Encourage children to play...it aids in their development

Photo: www.sxc.hu

Published April 2, 2012

Positive Parenting 

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity,” says contemporary American professor of psychiatry, Kay Redfield Jamison. Most of us would remember growing up – innovating with whatever one could lay one’s hands on, making toys from sticks, twigs, stones, leaves and knick knacks. 

“Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their parents, their friends, family and the world,” says Michelle Campbell, director, sector support services, Early Childhood Commission, Jamaica.

PLAY FOR DEVELOPMENT

 

Campbell encourages for the overall development of the children in the first five years of their lives, which she says, aids in the developmental process and also is beneficial as they pursue academics. “Play allows children to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically,” she informed. However, she opined that playing is essential to the development of all children. For children “Play is how children learn to socialise, to think critically, to solve problems and grow. Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their parents, their friends, family and the world.”

It is through play that children learn social and emotional by playing with others.  Playing with others allows a child to learn how to take turns, share and foster a sense of independence. 

Ring games offer opportunities for children to learn how to problem solve by working together to find a solution.  They promote language development, physical development (both large and fine motor development), coordination, as well as build self-esteem.

It is also imperative for the parents to lay emphasis on activities that build cognitive development, the process of learning how to think, reasoning and language development.  “Items such as books, puzzles, and games increase a child’s vocabulary and their ability to make decisions as they learn skills that encourages reading, writing and math,” Campbell said.

Growing up we all remember dirtying hands, clothes, splashing in the rain water, climbing trees and running around to catch butterflies, fun all the same but it also earned the displeasure of parents, who had a hard time washing the stains off.

Campbell strongly recommends outdoor activities, “It is important that children spend time in nature surrounded by trees and grass as it inspires play.  Parks are good outdoor spaces that offer children the freedom to discover, explore and build their imagination.” She added, “When children are provided opportunities to play outdoors they run, jump, climb, hop, balance which strengthens muscular development.” 

Fine motor development activities includes painting, drawing, using play dough, cutting paper, turning the pages of a book and assembling puzzles are all associated with eye-hand coordination, a skill critical to success in reading and writing at a later stage.   

 

For everyday play material, Campbell recommends the following:

• Balls
• Jump Ropes
• Paper
• Crayons
• Markers
• Puzzles
• Books

In today’s day and age, where open spaces and time is shrinking, playing can sometimes be restricted to a 10-inch screen of a frame of a video or a computer game; trying to win wars, destroy evil.

But technology has its distinct advantages and deterring as we think, with the advent and rising popularity of the tablet devices; they are seen as an essential tool to impart interactive education and promote development of children.

Encouraging children to play works both ways; parental involvement in a child's world of play is extremely beneficial to the parent.

“Playing with children establishes and strengthens bonds that will last forever. Parent-child play opens doors for the sharing of values, increases communication, allows for teachable moments and assists in problem solving,” says Campbell. “Play allows parents to view the world through the eyes of a child and create lasting memories of learning.”