It is common knowledge that parents and guardians are finding it harder these days
to spend time with their children in their play. Only a small percentage manage
to spend a single hour of the day interacting with their toys and participating
in their games in comparison to 80% of adults back in the 1980’s.
Child play develops your child’s mind and body to grow faster during the first few
years of life... and there is plenty you can do to help and encourage him along
the way.
Play enables your child to interact and respond to you and others. The most important
play for your child is to play with him and you should have time for this every
day. As a parent, you are your child's favourite playmate.
From the early days of your child’s life, he engages in play with you and playing
with him is not only enjoyable but is one of the most important ways you can nurture
his development.
Treasure Island Toys are doing all they can to make it easier for you to maximise
the time you can spend by providing all the information you will need to explain
the types of play and toys that will develop your child and we are also soon to
be launching hands-on classes at a nursery near you so and your child can take part
yourselves.
There are many activities that your child can take part in to aid his social development.
Role play is one example when he might play within in a group and take on the role
of others, for example when playing a game of “Mums and Dads” with friends, he pretends
to play every day family roles.
In the same way play can enable him to develop emotionally, this can also be seen
through such games, when he can display a range of emotions within the play.
Play is also a major contributor to your child’s physical development. There are
many activities which can benefit his physical development... painting and drawing
can help his fine manipulative skills because of the nature of the movement involved
in these activities.
Large construction toys can help his muscular development through any lifting, carrying,
stretching or balancing he might do.
The various different types of play he can participate in often can help him to
develop in more areas than one.
Play is seen by many as an ideal opportunity for him to learn new skills and plays
an important part in his life.
All areas of your child’s development are enhanced through his play activities.
During his preschool and school age years, he develops socially, emotionally, cognitively,
and physically through outside play.
The most beneficial play is initiated by your child. During free play is when most
learning takes place. Your child playing with blocks will begin to stack them. The
earliest forms of play in childhood are functional play.
Constructive play is common in preschool age children. Your child playing constructively
will create something through his play. Group constructive play encourages team
work and healthy social emotional development as well.
Pretend play is a very important part of healthy development. He may pretend and
role play from his preschool years through early elementary school. Playing make-believe
strengthens language skills and aids in proper social development.
Your child gains a strong foundation for learning through play. Solitary play fosters
independent thinking and problem solving while group play encourages cooperation
and understanding. For healthy growth and child play development, your child should
spend most of his days in free play.
Allow your child to play his way and encourage him to solve problems during playtime.
Child play development and learning through play are critical to your child’s health,
but many children are playing less these days.
Child play development happens because he is continually learning through play and
this leads to the growth and maturation of his brain and body.
It's been said that the work of a child is play or, perhaps, to be more exact, learning
through play. Play is such a part and parcel of your child's life that childhood
is, virtually, defined by the dominance of play.
Here is our guide to the different types of play by age groups