Get Ready for School With PLAY

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As your children explore the world through play, a lot is going on in their little brains. Because play can be so unique and varied based on the individuals involved, the benefits are vast. Playing and learning are innately linked from birth. When you play with your newborn, they are learning about things like spatial awareness and how to interact with people. Older babies are constantly conducting “baby experiments” as they drop their favorite toy from the stroller, testing to see if there will be a different outcome than the last time. Toddlers and preschoolers start to use their imaginations as they play with their peers, working together as they play. Each and every skill that is learned through play, starting at birth, continues to be developed as your children play.

What is happening in those little brains when children play? Children strengthen their:

Social development: deciphering social cues, practicing listening skills, and developing empathy
Emotional development: improving self-regulation while following and creating rules
Intellectual development: cultivating executive function skills and developing creative thinking
Physical development: refining coordination, strength, and gross motor skills

Another wonderful benefit is that, through play, your child may find things that they are passionate about. Your toddler that loves dressing up in your clothes may be a costume designer when they grow up or your 3rd grader that is obsessed with building the best LEGO structures may become an architect. Through play, their options are endless. What can you do to encourage play? The organization Zero to Three has a great list of tips that include:

Follow their lead. Don’t stress showing them the “right way” to play with a toy. They are exploring and figuring out their own way to play.
Go slow. Try your best not to take over and show them exactly what you think they should do with any given toy. Show them an example and see if they follow your lead. They may build off of that. Or they may show you a new way to interact with a toy.
Read their signals. Don’t force play if your child is showing signs of moving on to something else. Even before they start talking, your child will have a variety of ways to communicate with you that they are ready for something different. Stay tuned in to these signals.
Look at your play space. Is the space where you are playing safe for your child? Is it free of distractions? Or does it include a way for you to play music while you play? These are all things to consider when looking at your play environment.
Repeat! You may get tired of playing the same game over and over for days on end but your child may not! Practicing things over and over helps children master their new skills. Repetition is important.
Adapt. Always be sure to change up your play to meet your child where they are. This will keep things fun and avoid many frustrations.
Make time to play. You are your child’s first and best teacher. Be sure to give them the time to play so they are able to develop all of these important skills.

Interested in learning more about the importance of learning through play? Take a look at the resources below.

Curated reading list through our library.

Why is Play Important? A collection of articles by The National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Play – A Collection of articles, videos, and other resources by Zero to Three

Stuart Brown: Play is More Than Fun, a YouTube video

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