We all want our kids to enjoy their childhood and explore many different things. We want them to be interested in books. We want them to explore modern technology. We want them to go outside and appreciate nature.
There are so many scenarios in which children can blossom and play, and although we often deem playing as leisure activity, there is more to it than that. Play is, in fact, one of the most important things a child needs to do during their development.
Below are a few reasons why playing is so important for children:
- Play helps them learn how to get along with other kids. When your child has a playmate, they learn how to socialize with other kids and how to deal with different social situations. It is very important to their social development and fluency.
- It builds imagination. What’s more fun than pretending you are the king or queen of your own kingdom or an explorer finding treasure? When children are allowed to create a world of their own, their imaginations expand, which serves them in all other aspects of their lives as they grow older.
- It promotes physical development. There is actually a lot of physical activity involved in playing, which helps kids develop better balance, eye-and-hand coordination, and strength.
- They become team-oriented. Your child will be more at ease when working with other people and will learn to value teamwork and hard work in order to achieve their goals. For instance, if they want to build a small house, they need to work together and divide the responsibilities to bring it to life.
- Play is exercise. Your child becomes more active, which leads to better health.
- They learn. There is so much to learn when children play. Their motor skills are developed, and they can learn concepts that they see in books or from school like colors and shapes.
- They develop confidence. With obstacles to face and new skills to learn, children build confidence when they achieve small successes, whether physically or in their minds.
- Play is fun. Who wouldn’t want their children to have fun? Childhood happens quickly, so it is important for children to get to fully experience it, laugh, and feel free.
