The importance of play to children

According to the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, play is considered a basic right for every child. Studies show that children who are exposed to outdoor play have enhanced motor skills, coordination and capacity to focus.

It has been scientifically proven that early physical or sensory experiences are vital for proper brain development. By year two, a baby experiences an increase in connections of the brain cells, forming the base for motor control.

A child’s physical and motor growths peak from birth to 12 years. Children begin with big motor skills like walking and graduate to fine skills like writing using a pencil. During this a baby’s brain is like a sponge- absorbing knowledge through exploration.

Rewards of play
Play, therefore, is a critical part of a child’s development. The following are some of the benefits of play to children: Imagination – ‘Play stimulates creativity and imagination, especially when children are exposed to nature,’ shares Anjali Gautama Patel, the manager of an indoor children’s play facility in Nairobi.

  • Social – Kids learn empathy, to share and take turns while interacting with their peers. They also learn how to work out their emotions and to be assertive.
  • Physical – Play contributes to physical fitness and healthy bodies. This keeps illnesses and obesity at bay. Through games like building blocks, kids master balance and hand-eye coordination.
  • Mental – As kids use their five senses to explore their environment, they learn from cause and effect, like dropping and picking a toy from the floor. This leads to development of a healthy brain, thus enhancing academic performance.
  • Emotional- ‘Children who play with their parents are likely to be confident achieving adults. Play develops a child’s self-esteem and independence’, affirms Anjali.
  • Verbal-It aids in language development. Kids learn how to communicate with their peers or in a story- telling session.
  • Parental – Play provides a great avenue for parents to bond with their kids. Engage your child in physical games like soccer, hide-and-seek, skipping or dancing to music. This keeps them active and sets an example for them to follow.
  • Adaptability -It is a stress reliever as it alleviates irritability. It has a way of calming nerves, enabling kids to adjust to difficult situations like starting school or sitting for exams.
  • Balance – Play is very crucial in school as it gives children time to unwind. Playing at school also enables children to develop wholly instead of just developing mentally.

Hindrances to play
Various factors are a hindrance to children’s play. They include:

  • Technology – Play has now been substituted with gadgets and toys that see many kids caged at home. Others turn to passive activities like cartoons or video games that are usually addictive.
  • Busyness – Today’s children have hectic schedules with loads of homework and extra- curricular activities such as piano lessons to attend to. This makes free play hard to come by.
  • Ambition – A lot of emphasis has been put on achievement and good academic grades. As a result, most kids have to take extra tuition classes to attain high academic standards.
  • Fatigue – With numerous school demands, kids get home too tired to engage in any play. And during their free time, they would rather sleep or engage in less vigorous activities like playing video games.
  • Busy parents – Many parents are spending extra hours at work and arrive home exhausted and incapable of engaging in any play.
  • Insecurity – Today’s children seldom roam around playing due to insecurity concerns. They play under supervision in secured playgrounds, which limits free play.

Role of parents
Parents play an instrumental role in influencing their child’s growth. While in the womb, babies are accustomed to their mothers’ voices and after birth, they become aware of other people’s voices and faces. There are benefits of parents playing with their children. They include:

Natural instinct – Children like human stimuli more than technical stimulation. Parents have a natural sense to love and nurture a child. As parents touch, sing or comfort their kids, it stimulates their brain development.

Security – Playing with parents mainly puts the children in charge and allows them to just be kids. When kids play with parents, it instills in them a sense of protection and assurance.

Bonding – It is critical for parents to let the child take the lead as it fosters a deeper understanding and bonding. ‘Both parents can incorporate playing with their kids as a means of bonding. It adds balance and nurtures a child’s confidence: reiterates Anjali.

Confidence – Parents should give their kids an opportunity to direct the play, while parental responsibility ensures it is within a safe and controlled environment. This teaches children how to make critical decisions, resulting in self esteem.

Sociability – Give children a chance to invite you in the game. This develops leadership skills and and shows them how to deal with other people. Do not presume that because you are the parent, you can just join in the circle. You could end up hurting a tender ego that may be hard to repair in future.

Trust – It is important for parents to just go along with the game. As you flow with your children’s game, It builds trust and confidence in them. It is also crucial to initiate communication during play to develop their speech.

Communication- Engaging your children in games that involve repetition, singing and memorizing boosts their mental and verbal skills. Such games teach children how to communicate effectively. Research shows that children who are regularly read and spoken to develop superior language skills as opposed to those who are never stimulated verbally.

END: BL 43/30-31

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