I recently read a blog about our children and how they do not “play” anymore. The author suggested that children are so busy, “Their schedules would rival that of any CEO.” She further suggested that we keep our children so busy, telling them where to go and what to do when they get there, that we are creating a group of helpless individuals who do not understand how to do things on their own, for themselves. By children, she wasn’t just talking about adolescents and younger. In fact, she was also speaking about those children who are in high school and college.
You might be wondering why play is so important in the younger years or assume that playing a team sport is the same as the type of play the children do in the backyard. However, the term “play” means to “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Play is what you see your child do when he or she gets to choose what to do when given the freedom, independence and time to determine their own free time.
The Importance of Playtime
Playtime assists children in developing social, physical, cognitive and language skills. Socially, children learn how to cooperate with one another, take turns and play by the rules. Physically, children develop their gross motor skills as they run for balls, reach for dolls and grasp their bottles. Younger children develop their fine motor skills through handling smaller toys like Legos, while also developing their language skills by having to communicate. During playtime, they learn the terminology for certain games or toys, for example, and they also learn to effectively communicate with their peers to get what they desire. Finally, play assists in developing cognitive skills because children learn how to problem-solve. They also enhance their memory skills, learn colors, numbers, sizes, etc. Play does so much more than one might realize!
What Does Play Look Like?
Play allows children to learn about the world around them through exploration, which develops their imagination and creativity as well as problem-solving and social skills.
Children’s play might seem illogical and random, and it oftentimes might not seem like there is a purpose. However, children’s play is a right and is actually the essence of early childhood and later childhood. Think back to early childhood and some of your favorite childhood memories. Are they centered around play? Are you playing with your best friend in the backyard? Children’s play can be happy or sad, loud or quiet, calm or rambunctious. When children play, they can move from one activity to another.
Children’s play does not resemble adult play behavior. I oftentimes find my preschooler playing superhero: he dresses as Captain America or Superman and zooms through the house saving the day. He holds swords and tells me about the pirates he met on deserted islands just over by the couch. He has recently become an expert on “Spinjitzu,” which is apparently a Ninja move that he learned about from his Ninjago books. My older son enjoyed playing with Thomas the Train. He would make his trains chug around the rails to meet the other trains and be “very useful engines.” He would use his fine and gross motor skills to maneuver the trains around his train table. He would make miles of track only to break it apart to make it again. We talked about words like cow catcher, steam and what is meant by “to be cross with someone.” This was all thanks to our days loving Thomas the Tank Engine. Our youngest is interested in having tea with her babies or with her brothers. She carefully swaddles her baby and then carries her around the house. We talk about holding the baby upright and laying her down in her cradle. Each one of our children has learned powerful skills during playtime.
Stages of Play
From birth through the age of four or five, young children go through four main stages of play: solitary play, parallel play, associative play and cooperative play. It is important to note that children travel through these stages at different rates. While these stages give milestone ages, they are not exact.
Solitary play begins in infancy. Babies explore their environment and learn about their world. This stage lasts through toddlerhood. During this stage, children play on their own and pay no attention to anyone else around them.
The next stage is parallel play. Parallel play typically begins in toddlerhood, but it can occur at any age. During parallel play, children will play in the same room as other children with similar toys, but they do not interact or play with one another. They may copy one another, but they do not interact with one another.
The third stage, associative play, typically occurs around the age of 3 or 4. During associative play, children play together in an organized manner.
Finally, cooperative play happens around the age of 4 or 5. During this type of play, children play together in an organized structure. This happens because their emotional and social development has matured. They will play well together, show a willingness to share and communicate with one another.
How to Help
As a parent or caregiver, you have a role to play. Children tend to become more creative when parents get involved in their child’s play. First, you should start by observing. Observe what your child does well and what your child struggles with during playtime. Learn what your child loves to do during his or her playtime. Follow your child’s lead. You get to be the boss all day, either at home or at work, so let your child lead you and determine what to do during playtime. Most importantly, have fun! There doesn’t have to be a right way to play with your kids. Try to expand their vocabulary while having fun, but also make things fresh and exciting for both of you. The more fun you have, the more fun and exciting it will be for them to interact with you.