The Importance of Play

All children play.

Ever wondered why that is?

We all know that children love to play. We see it happening all the time - even when they should be doing something else!

But did you know that they are actually fulfilling vital NEEDS?

That's right, needs NOT wants.

The urge to play sits in the limbic (or primitive) part of the brain. This means that it sits in the unconscious, instinctive part of our brain, just like breathing!

Babies, toddlers, children and teenagers have a natural instinct to play and be playful. Obviously the type of play changes as their needs and abilities develop and they grow. But playing is a natural instinct in our children.

These needs are 2 fold and I shall discuss them one at a time.

Firstly, children get aspects of learning through play that they cannot get from anywhere else. Play is life changing for children as they use it as a dress rehearsal for life. It is a way of understanding the world around them by experimenting with their world in a safe and secure environment.

Think of your little one all dressed up and role playing something they have seen. It could be mummy's and babies or firemen or going to work or the shops. Whatever it is, when they copy what they see, they are processing it and making sense of what they have seen and ultimately the world they live in.

Play encourages imagination, creativity, communication, resilience, physical, emotional and intellectual growth, social awareness and curiosity. All of these things are directly related to brain growth.

Even Einstein said: "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

Bus driver or mad scientist?

It doesn't matter, as long as he decides.

Secondly, if we take note, we will see that when children play, they are often moving. Again, it is an intrinsic need that serves a purpose. This movement is vital to develop gross and fine motor skills, hand/eye co-ordination, spatial awareness, body health and dexterity.

I'd like to look at this from a slightly different angle. We have heard lots about the benefits of play and movement covering the usual elements mentioned above, but it might surprise you what else it does for your child.

Let's look at the simple activity of skipping.

Children do it just for fun, as a way to experience different ways of moving their bodies.

BUT...

skipping increases the bone density in children's legs; increases muscle strength and endurance; improves flexibility and co-ordination; improves balance and agility; increases their heart rate which promotes a strong, healthy heart; lungs work hard due to the physical exertion so they end up with a strong, healthy respiratory system and a ton of good chemicals are released.

All this from simply skipping!

This is not just getting dirty.

It is learning and getting healthy!

Much research has been carried out around the world on the benefits of freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and self directed play. But what happens if children are not given the time to play freely and independently?

Studies have shown that children who have been play deprived for a long time during early childhood may display behaviours ranging from being unable to mix socially, reduced self-control, reduced resilience, all the way to mental illness and brain development delays in the most extreme cases.

We need to always remember that it is the experience that is important and not the outcome. It doesn't matter what the end result is, eg being filthy dirty and wet, as it is the experience that grows the brain. Children learn by doing and they learn that actions have consequences by doing.

We need to let them do!

Children need long uninterrupted periods of play and exploration. They need the time to lose themselves in their game, to wallow in it, to extend it and absorb the learning from it.

The moral of the story is our children NEED to play.

Please let them!

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The first step always begins with understanding what your little one needs.