Play is crucial for the proper growth of a developing brain. Young children learn about and begin to interact with the world around them through play. In play, children can imagine and experiment with a world they can control, overcoming their fears and sometimes working with peers or adults to act out adult roles. Children gain the confidence and strength they’ll need to face future challenges by learning new skills while playing. Children learn important social and emotional skills through unstructured play, such as how to work together, share, negotiate, solve problems, and stand up for themselves. When children are given the freedom to direct their play, they gain experience making choices, setting their agendas, learning about new topics, and ultimately diving headfirst into their interests.
Play can aid in children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, social, and emotional development. Playing is also an excellent way for parents to engage with their children.
At Helping Hands Family Childcare, our focus is to educate our future through PLAY!
Here are some reasons why PLAY is beneficial to your child’s early childhood education:
- Play helps your child gain skills and knowledge for social and emotional development, language, cognitive, self-help, and large and small motor support.
- Play supports your child’s creativity.
- Play can help your child recognize and handle their emotions and action.
- Play can assist with your child handling stress and conflict.
- Focusing on play-based learning will allow us to provide learning materials, coach interactions, ask open-ended questions, and discover your child’s strengths and areas where we can provide additional support.