PARENT CONNECTION:
Your Child and Play
We all know that children like to play. But what we may
not knowis the importance of play in a child's life. It has been said that play is the
natural presence of work for a child. Play is essential to every area of a child's growth
and development.
Mentally
Play enables children to know things about the world and to discover information essential
to learning. Through play children learn basic concepts such as colors, counting, how to
build things, and how to solve problems. Thinking and reasoning skills are at work every
time a child engages in some type of play. Life tasks such as climbing stairs are first
introduced to a child through play.
Socially
Children learn to relate to one another, negotiate roles, obey rules, and most
importantly, the satisfaction of belonging to a group. Learning how to gain friendships is
one of the most rewarding outcomes of play.
Emotionally
Play fulfills many needs including a sense of accomplishment, successfully giving and
receiving attention, and the need for self-esteem. Play brings to children other
emotionally satisfying experiences such as a sense of fairness, meaningful activity, and
recognition. Through dramatic play chidren encounter a wide range of emotions such as
anger, fear, frustration, stress and will discover ways to cope with these feelings.
Physically
Play provides a means for energy to be put to use. It strengthens and refines small and
large motor skills, and it builds stamina and strength. Sensory learning develops mostly
through play. Play is significant to physical development in that without it the body
could not grow and develop normally.
Children have a strong, natural desire to
investigate, explore, and make sense out of their world through play. The quality of play
can be supported by home and school alike as we create appropriate learning environments
and choose materials and equipment that maximize a child's play opportunities.
.....Karin Klein, Administrator, Red
Hill School, Red Hill, PA
Parent Connection Archive
The Busy Bin
Praise and Encouragement
Your Child's Fears
Your Child and Play
Teaching Your Child Responsibility
Make a Book With Your Child
Getting Ready For School
Learning to Laugh
Learning to Eat Healthy Food
Encouraging Creativity
Stress and Children
TV and Children
Here is a great site for the rules of play for all those
games you played with your friends on the playground and after school. Visit Games Kids Play. |
