13.1 Play

13.1 Play 

Play: refers to activities that children pursue of their inherent enjoyment 

• Enjoyable, active and voluntary – if children are rewarded for their behavior or are indifferent about the activity, it’s not play 

• Majority of children’s play from age 4 onwards is social 

• Help with many other aspects of development 

Socioemotional development   

• Learn how to cooperate, take turns, and try out social roles 

• Because inherently enjoyable, children will experience happiness through play 

learn/practice empath and concern for others

Foster cognitive development 

• Gives children opportunities to practice problem solving, to strengthen their memory and to express creativity 

Language development

• Because coordination of behaviors requires communication among participants 

Gross motor skills, coordination, balance and strength 

• Engage in physical play outside or in an indoor gym

• Active physical play promotes emotion regulation and increases positive emotions

Essential part of child development 

• Play-based curriculum – guides children to learn through engaging in activities rather than through explicit instruction 

• Essential developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education 

• Help children cope with difficult situations

• Child-centered play therapy (CCTP) 

• Encourages children to express their thoughts and emotions through free play 

• Effective in reducing children’s externalizing symptoms as well as improving their social skills and academic achievements

• Decrease pain, improve positive attitudes and reduce anxiety among children hospitalized for surgeries, cancer treatment, or other chronic conditions 

• Children in orphanages are deprived of toys and opportunities of play 

• Interventions can reverse the harm that results from lack of play