Children and Playing

This passage is excellent for IELTS because it mixes psychology, biology, and education — exactly the kind of topic that appears in both Reading and Writing Task 2. I’ll give you high-value vocabulary + collocations + memory strategy, so you can actually use them.

🧠 1. Core Topic Vocabulary (Child Development & Play)

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Key words you must know:

  • childhood development

  • maturation (physical & mental)

  • play behaviour

  • symbolic thought

  • social interaction

  • cognitive processes

👉 💡 Must-know collocations:

  • support child development

  • develop cognitive abilities

  • engage in play activities

🧬 2. Brain & Learning Vocabulary (VERY HIGH VALUE)

  • brain maturation

  • neural development

  • sensory systems

  • language acquisition

  • self-regulation

👉 💡 Collocations:

  • brain continues to develop

  • acquire language skills

  • process information effectively

🎭 3. Types of Play (IMPORTANT for examples)

From Paragraph C:

  • sensory play (touch, sound, colour)

  • repetitive play

  • pretend play

  • role play

  • games with rules

  • symbolic play

👉 💡 Example sentence:

  • “Children develop creativity through pretend play.”

❤ 4. Social & Emotional Vocabulary

  • empathy

  • co-operation

  • competition

  • social cohesion

  • dominance relationships

👉 💡 Collocations:

  • develop social skills

  • form social bonds

  • interact with peers

⚠ 5. Negative Effects (VERY USEFUL for Writing)

From Paragraph F:

  • play deprivation

  • social isolation

  • lack of confidence

  • poor health

  • inability to socialise

👉 💡 Powerful phrases:

  • lead to long-term consequences

  • result in social difficulties

  • negatively affect development

🐬 7. Advanced Vocabulary (Band 7.5+)

  • adaptive behaviour

  • sensorimotor skills

  • cognitive development

  • evolutionary function

  • dopamine reward system

👉 💡 Use in Writing:

  • “Play is an adaptive behaviour essential for survival.”

🎯 8. TOP 12 Collocations (MEMORIZE THESE)

These are your high-score weapons:

  • prepare for adulthood

  • develop cognitive skills

  • enhance social interaction

  • engage in imaginative play

  • follow rules and norms

  • build emotional intelligence

  • form social relationships

  • lack social skills

  • experience social isolation

  • promote healthy development

  • acquire communication skills

  • improve physical abilities

🎁 How this helps YOU

This passage prepares you for:

📖 Reading

  • Matching headings

  • TRUE/FALSE traps

  • Summary completion

✍ Writing Task 2 topics:

  • children development

  • education

  • screen time vs play

🗣 Speaking:

  • childhood memories

  • importance of games

  • social skills