Kids' development is a significant concern for parents. Every parent wants to ensure the proper physical and mental growth of a kid. Researches show that a child who plays regularly is more active, has a better immune system and also a better sensory skill than those who are not interested in playing. Play help to develop cognitive thinking, learning social skills also. According to recent research, seven facts in a child's development came to light when a child is engaged in playing games, more specifically physical games.
Psychiatrist Stuart Brown writes, "Play is something done for its own sake. It's voluntary; it's pleasurable, it offers a sense of engagement and takes you out of time. And the act itself is more important than the outcome." A child finds much pleasure in playing than other activities.
Children engage in play for the satisfaction of the mind. Thus the process of being motivated to do satisfactory thing develop unconsciously. This leads the child to become active in the future. When children learn how to play, she also learns the methodology of working.
What do they learn?
- Children learn to manage anxiety and fears through play. It's considered as a natural stress reliever.
- Play allows the children to meet with new ideas, and they get the opportunity to make connectin with their previous experience.
- Play helps to increase decision making capability from childhood. Kids with enough playing opportunity are perfect in decision making than them who are not active in playing.
- Play makes them interactive with others. Not only with the natural surroundings but also with other kids when they play together.
- A long span of attention is another benefit of encouraging your child to move, and play outside can ensure the flourish of an independent personality and open-minded self-awareness for their bright future.
Researchers Opinion
Child researcher David Whitebread, Dave Neale from the University of Cambridge and Hanne Jensen from The LEGO Foundation, published a research article titled 'The role of play in children's development: a review of the evidence.' They have gone through several disciplines, arguing for the importance of play in human development, and that explains the role of play in children's cognitive, emotional, and social learning.Another clinical report titled 'The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children' by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains how playing is key to building thriving brains, bodies, and social bonds. It shows that play can improve children's ability to plan, organize in their own life, and exchange emotions with others. Additionally, play helps with language development most.
Functions of Play
There are many functionalities of play in child development. Let's take a look at the most important functions-
Physical
Play ensures the physical movement of your kid. When a child moves his body part for pleasure, it develops body control. For example, When kid swings, they learn how to make their body balanced without being dropped. It is also related to developing gross motor skills.Mental and Emotional
A child feels emotionally secure among same-age kids, and the opportunity to play with them grows a sense of humor naturally. To be more exact, compassion is a human ability that can be attained through communication with playmates. Besides, sharing happiness increases the flow as it is contiguous.Cognitive
Play is one of the best ways of gaining knowledge, especially for a child. Through this, they get the opportunity to exercise thinking and problem-solving ability. Besides, it also increases the basic understanding of shape, size, and texture.Sensory Skills
Playing in open fields or gardens allows kids in direct contact with nature. It develops a better taste sensation.Intellectual
Outdoor games are always more inventive than computer games, creating an opportunity to explore and discuss ideas amongst the playmates. This enhances the creativity and cognitive growth of children. In a team, incorporating organizational ideas and solving problems develop a child's brain. At the same time, children who play outside have higher self-awareness and tend to share life with their care-givers or parents far more freely than the ones who pass most of the time online. Intellectual development is before independence in thinking and living a life of choice.Social and Moral
Social and moral values define the personality of a person from many perspectives. If you want to ensure proper socialization of your kid, playing with others helps more than anything. A kid will learn moral values when she will be in attached to others. There is no fruitful alternative in this circumstance.Parental concerns
When you are providing any playing equipment to your kid, you need to be extra careful. Toys and games should be screened carefully before providing it. Make sure the toys don't have any sharp edge and no small parts that could be swallowed or aspirated. You should be concern about the toy don't lead your child into danger.Kids love to run, jump, and hop. Make sure that there doesn't have any unwanted thing that may cause physical damage to your youngster. Remember, giving your child plenty of opportunities to play is the best way to help them grow into creative, curious, and healthy. But, the lack of awareness would create unexpected situations.
Presenting a terrible reality that a US child under 18 spends, on average, 7.5 hours a day with entertaining electric devices. These results incuriosity in playing outdoor games. To overcome this crisis campaign 'Let's Move' has been started. That declared every day a minimum of 60 minutes of mild to vigorous outdoor activity is essential to the growth of the youngsters in proper weight. But your child needs to play outside not only for their physical health but also for their emotional and intellectual growth.
On the last note, play is not only important for the development of a child but also for assessing the health condition. A child grows well where playing opportunity is available. Nothing can be the alternative of playing.
