Play is essential to a child's development. Not only does it help them build motor, social, cognitive, and emotional skills, but it also lets them have fun while at it as well! Not only that, but play also helps strengthen a child's mental health. In this blog, we will explore how play is beneficial to both the child and the caregiver.
What are the benefits of play?
Children naturally like to play, and research indicates that playing affects the brain's physical and chemical development. Children's capacity to adapt to, survive, and modify their social and physical settings is influenced by play, according to research.
From a developmental standpoint, play enables kids to experiment with their social and behavioral compositions as well as sharpen their motor and communicative abilities. Hence, it is considered that play promotes the growth of social skills, emotional capacity, and resilience, as well as creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Boosts positive emotions
While relaxation is an obvious advantage of playing, it can also promote positive emotions. Research proves that children who have more opportunities for play exhibit more happiness compared to those who do not play. It also stated the importance of family members’ participation during play.
Through unstructured play, children may learn to self-regulate and deal with a range of emotions, including anger and frustration. Kids who participate in schoolyard activities and connect with others grow more emotionally aware, are better equipped to handle stress and disappointment, and are more resilient as a result. Play is a natural way for kids to learn how to be resilient by working together, overcoming obstacles, and negotiating with others. Children's long-term mental health depends on resilience, particularly when it comes to handling stress or resolving disputes. So, it is reasonable to see play as being of utmost significance for the development of children into healthy, capable adults.
Helps in handling unpleasant emotions
In relation to the statement above, it is crucial for a child to develop skills in processing negative emotions, such as anger, fear, pain, and loss. Play enables children to express feelings that they find difficult to do since they still lack the vocabulary to completely describe them. By doing this, children are given a way to express their feelings without holding them inside. This can also assist parents or other adults in identifying distress in children even when they are not vocalizing it.
According to Piaget's theory from 1962, pretend play gives kids the chance to imitate real-life situations, come up with the perfect solutions for their own amusement, and lessen unpleasant emotions. Children may integrate a wide range of both good and bad life events with the use of narratives and storytelling.
Creates social connections
Children can socialize according to their own rules while playing. Kids pick up social skills and discover how to make and keep friends. In children, play has been found to build emotional attachments since it fosters social skills. And they accomplish this with the aid of a healthy brain, which improves the more children engage in unstructured play.
Children can develop their social skills through cooperative play as they learn how to deal with group dynamics. It teaches kids how to cooperate and make concessions to others, acknowledge and respond to others' emotions, share, be affectionate, and solve conflicts. These crucial early skills also aid children in understanding social roles and norms.
Enhances creativity and imagination
Children use their imaginations when playing. They invent imaginary games or lose themselves in made-up settings. Kids build their confidence by acting out various solutions. They establish their own norms and learn to abide by them or modify them as necessary. They are practical abilities for navigating life and establishing connections with people.
The capacity to see one item as another is known as “symbolic play.” A stick, a bucket, and leaves, for instance, can be transformed into a cooking tool, a pot, and tasty food. Playing with symbols is crucial to a child's healthy growth. It helps kids develop the abilities they'll need for problem-solving and future learning. It also fosters creativity, which helps people succeed in many aspects of their lives.
Encourages independence
Children frequently spend their daily activities being told what to do by adults. They are instructed on what to do, when to do it, and where to go for a large portion of their days. They have the chance to establish the rules and exercise authority in the domain of play. During play, they can be the leaders and initiate the pace of play while the adults listen and follow them.
Learning how to play with others and playing independently are both crucial life skills. Children benefit from having a greater feeling of freedom. Kids who are at ease playing alone feel more capable of taking on other duties and finding their place in the group. Even future group socialization benefits from developing these abilities.
How should you play with children?
Playing with parents or other adults is just as vital for children as playing by themselves and with other kids. Here are some suggestions to promote play:
- Set a schedule for play. It may be for 30 minutes every evening before supper or every Saturday morning, for instance. Keep in mind that you both gain from this time spent playing together.
- Ensure that your child has your full attention. Make time to play with your kid without interruptions, and turn off the TV and your phone. Your child will feel special if they have your undivided attention.
- Let your children take the initiative. Instead of attempting to control the play, participate in their game. Let your child set the rules, set the tempo, and make the decisions during pretend play. Follow around and ask questions; you'll probably be taken into fascinating new realms that are enjoyable for you as well.
- Never try to extend a game or force play. The best way to teach a child a new ability is to demonstrate how it works before letting them attempt it on their own. It's time to switch to a new activity when your kid becomes bored with one.
- Take into account safety and the appropriateness of the play. A game loses its enjoyment and delight if it is too difficult or simple. Choose age-appropriate activities for your child, and make sure they are aware of any playtime safety guidelines. A child getting wounded is the fastest way to spoil a pleasant game.
Play is our doorway to the outside world. Through it, the child gains knowledge about objects and how to use them. With his newly acquired legs and a biological drive to move about, the child explores his surroundings. The young kid interacts with people to control risks, find solutions to issues, and develop their creative imagination. Free, unstructured play during adolescence shapes the brain networks that will later direct our relationships, determine our place in the world, and negotiate agreements with others. Play is always essential for maintaining both physical and mental health.
