Young Children Need to Play
“It has been said that play is children’s work. Children work hard at their play because they can make it up themselves. The best part about children’s play is that they learn a great deal while having fun “.
Play can be any spontaneous activity that is fun. Spontaneous play occurs when children do an activity freely. If children organize dramatic play, a game of hide-and-seek, or a ball game, they are meeting their needs for play.
Play is an effective and enjoyable way for children to develop many skills:
Language skills- when they play name games, sing songs, and recite jump rope rhymes.
Thinking skills- when they construct a block tower, follow directions to a game, and figure out pieces to a puzzle.
Small-muscle skills- when they string beads, make clay figures, and cut with a scissors.
Large-muscle skills- when they play ball, roller skate, and run races.
Creative skills- when they make up stories, put on a puppet show, and play with dress-ups.
Social skills- when they discuss rules for a game, decide who will play what part in dramatic play, and when they team up to play ball games.
Children experience the full benefits of play when they are given plenty of unstructured time for the enjoyable and fun work of play.
Written by Diane Statza
Thanks, Diane!
The Early Childhood Department
Young Children Need to Play
“It has been said that play is children’s work. Children work hard at their play because they can make it up themselves. The best part about children’s play is that they learn a great deal while having fun “.
Play can be any spontaneous activity that is fun. Spontaneous play occurs when children do an activity freely. If children organize dramatic play, a game of hide-and-seek, or a ball game, they are meeting their needs for play.
Play is an effective and enjoyable way for children to develop many skills:
Language skills- when they play name games, sing songs, and recite jump rope rhymes.
Thinking skills- when they construct a block tower, follow directions to a game, and figure out pieces to a puzzle.
Small-muscle skills- when they string beads, make clay figures, and cut with a scissors.
Large-muscle skills- when they play ball, roller skate, and run races.
Creative skills- when they make up stories, put on a puppet show, and play with dress-ups.
Social skills- when they discuss rules for a game, decide who will play what part in dramatic play, and when they team up to play ball games.
Children experience the full benefits of play when they are given plenty of unstructured time for the enjoyable and fun work of play.
Written by Diane Statza
Thanks, Diane!
The Early Childhood Department