10 Reasons Why Play Is Good for Your Child

It’s one of any child’s rights. Play is part and parcel of a happy childhood and it’s a more multi-faceted aspect of their development than we may think. Education experts have even established centers and specialized programs just to maximize the learning potential kids can derive from play, whether through games, music, or puzzles. Even conferences and campaigns are ongoing just to create awareness on the importance of play in child development. In fact, studies even show that play is actually a way for your child to “prepare their brains for the challenges of adulthood.”

With the advent of handheld video game consoles and other gadgets, the old definition of play seems to be becoming a rarer and rarer encounter for a growing number of children. Experts say that old-fashioned play, free playtime that is, is rapidly losing ground because of “today’s plugged in, overscheduled kids.”

Which is why we want to remind you why plain’ ol’ playtime can be the simplest way for your chilld’s development. Here are just a few of the many benefits your kid gets through play:

1.    It helps him assert his independence. Even as early as his infant years, letting your child have some solo play time helps him practice a sense of autonomy, as this allows him to experience his environment as he pleases.

2.    “It’s the time your baby can learn and explore at his own pace—without pressure from grownups,” says Dr. Padua-Bautista, internist and family doctor. Playing provides an opportunity for kids to freely interact with their surroundings.

 

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3.    It develops their sense of imagination. Notice when your child makes voices or plays pretend when playing with dolls or action figures? This allows them to manifest their creativity, with their capacity to come up with their own stories and interpretation of things through play. According to psychologist Linn, as she explains in her book The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, make-believe is children’s way to battle their fears and to explore their hopes and dreams. It’s also a way for them to express themselves.

4.    It helps them learn how to interact with peers. If you’ve heard of play dates, or when parents arrange for their kids to play together on a schedule, then you know that the goal for these setups is to encourage their children to interact with one another, and possibly develop other values like sharing, cooperation, taking turns, resolving conflicts, etc. It helps establish the reality to your child that there other kids just like him, and that play time is meant as a social activity. This may also be where they’ll get to meet their first friends in life.

5.    It lets them have fun. Quite simply, play is fun! It lets your kids have a great time and it’s also a venue for them to release any form of stress or anxiety they may already be feeling at their age. They get to relax

6.    Play helps lengthen their attention span. Letting your child play outdoors for just 30 minutes a day actually helps them enhance their ability to focus and to pay attention. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, kids who had recess periods and were able to spend time ni the playground behaved better throughout the day. Play time which involves guessing, figuring, interpretation and the like boosts their brain development and learning.

7.    It helps them have fun on their own. Playing on their own allows them to find out what makes them happy during playtime and in the process they learn more about their identity.

8.    It’s good for their health. Active play not only helps develop their strength, agility, coordination, among others, thereby diminishing their chance for contracting heart disease in the future, according to a 2005 study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

 

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9.    It complements learning academic concepts. In 2009, a study published in the Journal of School Health discovered that the greater the number of physical tests a child could pass, the greater the chance that they would score high as well on academic tests. According to psychologist Hirsch-Pasek, "They learn about numbers when they're playing stickball, and believe me they know which team is ahead. They are telling stories on the playground, and they're getting active."

10.    It strengthens the bond with the parents. Just try out any of our Parent-Child Fun Activities and you’ll experience how this helps foster a stronger bond with your childen. You get to have fun together and they turn to you as someone they can learn from and depend on.


You may also want to read:
Why Playing Make-Believe Is Safe and Healthy For Toddlers

Sources:
•    August 12, 2011. Stephanie Pappas. “The Top 5 Benefits of Play” Livescience.com
•    “Benefits of Play” udel.edu
•    February 1, 2011. Michele Borba. “11 (Not So) Surprising Benefits of Play” micheleborba.com


Photography by Ocs Alvarez and Jun Pinzon