Play is often fun and silly, but it is far more powerful for children than many parents may realize. Playtime fosters learning and is a crucial element in encouraging healthy development in children. Here are six life skills that playtime promotes:
1. Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills
When children are given the opportunity to think and find solutions during playtime, their cognitiveness and their ability to use problem-solving skills in a creative manner are developed. The type of play that encourages this development is known as exploratory play. Some examples of exploratory play are obstacle courses and imaginative play where there is thinking and exploration of new ideas. During exploratory play, children learn to focus and pay attention. As they engage in exploratory play, they can improve their concentration while becoming more and more absorbed in their activities.
2. Motor Development Skills
Physical play, which not only encompasses running, jumping, and climbing, but also includes drawing, painting, and singing, helps children enhance both their fine and gross motor development skills. Fine motor skills can be defined as activities that inprove coordination, like building with blocks. Gross motor skills can be described as physical play that promotes body coordination and strength, like climbing.
3. Language Development
Children begin to understand how sounds are put together as early as the infant stage. As they enter the toddler stage, they are beginning to develop their language skills. Playtime makes that more prominent as it often involves listening to storytelling, singing, and learning rhymes to enhance vocabulary and language skills.
4. Social Skills
Social skills when playing give children the chance to meet and play with children in nearly every activity. Whether playing with parents, teachers, friends, or children at daycare/school, social skills will engage in cooperative activities, such as learning how to share toys, taking turns, and helping others around them. This also teaches children how to adapt their playtime when faced with new challenges or changes in the environment.
5. Expressive Skills
While children are learning how to wait their turn, they can sometimes get frustrated, resulting in a temper tantrum. Expressive play is not only a great way for children to make their feelings and emotions visible, but it also can teach patience and how to manage impulses. When children develop expressive skills they often get a sense of their feelings (happy, sad, frustrated, etc.). Through play, children can learn about empathy, understanding, and compassion which can help them navigate and settle disagreements.
6. Learning to Respect Others
Playtime can help children understand inclusion and diversity. When children play with a group of kids they are more likely to understand that people come from all different cultures and backgrounds. This will help promote respect for others.
Harbor Child Care Helps Children Develop Skills Through Play
Harbor Child Care understands how important it is for children to develop essential life skills through playtime. We utilize creative methods while also allowing children to have fun and enjoy their time at Harbor Child Care. For more information, contact us at (516) 493-9830.
