What is the Role of Play in Early Childhood Education?
Playtime is essential for the healthy development of a child's brain function. It encourages bonding between a child and parent and also enables the child to learn about the world around him in a non-threatening manner.
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General Benefits
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Imaginative play lets children explore the world at their own pace. Unstructured play allows children to express their creativity and utilize their imaginations which helps them prepare for situations they will encounter in the real world. Play also improves emotional and cognitive skills. Children can practice decision making skills, discover new interests and explore the world at their own pace.
Physical Benefits
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Active play enhances a child's ability to process non-verbal stimuli. Playtime for children offers the opportunity for exercise. Body movement improves the child's mobility, balance, coordination and strength. Physical play enhances the child's perceptual motor development and the ability to process non-verbal stimuli.
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Emotional Benefits
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Play improves cognitive skills, including attention span. The emotional benefits of play are many. Play encourages children to make their own decisions and it inspires confidence. Role playing can teach children how to work together in groups, negotiate and become effective problem solvers. Play improves cognitive abilities, including attention span, language development and the ability to learn from past experiences and/or mistakes.
Lack of Play
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The lack of playtime is detrimental to the mental development of a child. Without physical play, children can develop long-term health and weight issues. The absence of unstructured play can negatively influence mental health. Children in over-scheduled families do not have the free-play time they need for healthy development.
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References
- Photo Credit the play v image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com child image by Byron Moore from Fotolia.com running child image by Sergej Razvodovskij from Fotolia.com making puzzle image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com kids image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
