When your son tosses a frisbee or your daughter builds a colorful block building, you’re probably not thinking about the importance of child’s play. When children play, it often seems quite ordinary, but their actions have far more significance than you might imagine.
Play is so critical to your child’s overall development, it should always be an integral part of any early learning program. Each game your child plays presents challenges and learning opportunities. Each day of fun is another step in your child’s educational journey. Play allows your child to socialize, learn, and share interactive experiences with classmates, siblings, and neighborhood friends.
The Importance of Child’s Play
In the Lego Foundation’s White paper, “Learning through play: a review of the evidence,” experts (Zosh, Hopkins, Jensen, Liu, Neale, Hirsh-Pasek, Solis, & Whitebread) discuss the importance of child’s play. Their report describes play as “…joyful, actively engaging, and meaningful…” activities. It explains how play establishes a common connection between a child’s home, community, and school environments.
The report further acknowledges how play is critical to a child’s social, emotional, and academic development. Simple games help children learn specific skills such as math and reading. Play helps young children “learn-to-learn.” It assists them in developing skills that help them acquire knowledge and curiosity.
Children Need More Play
In Dr. Rachel E. White’s research study, “The Power of Play,” she describes an important contradiction. Scientific research has proven that play is an important tool for developing the whole child. Yet, as experts learn more about the power of play, research shows that children are playing far less than they used to.
Instead of encouraging play, some early learning environments emphasize test preparation and academic standings. “Learning” toys often take the place of playful experiences.
Children Need More Play
Children thrive under a school curriculum that recognizes the importance of child’s play. Developmentally appropriate play experiences are critical to your child’s early progress. They provide opportunities that inspire a child’s imagination, joy, and a sense of adventure. Play is critical to multiple areas of childhood growth and development.
- Social/Emotional
- Motor Development
- Cognitive
- Language/Literacy
At TLC We Understand the Importance of Child’s Play
If you’d like to know more about the educational importance of child’s play, contact The Learning Center. We have locations in South Windsor, Windsor, and Manchester, Connecticut. Give us a call at (833) 421-5470 or complete our contact form to schedule a tour.