The Importance of Play

Did you know that children have very important work to do? Their job is to PLAY!

Many children do not get enough unstructured, non-screen time, play opportunities that they need to grow and develop. Play is where true learning happens!

When children play, they are learning:

· New vocabulary and language skills- Play is when they practice new words and communication skills with their peers or an adult.

· Problem Solving Skills- Experimenting with movement, materials and toys to create something helps them experience the world.

· Risk and safety- Children use play to practice before they encounter real life situations. When we let them take risks during play, they gain the skills and confidence to make safer choices.

· Social skills- Playing with friends is the perfect way to learn how to share, problem solve together, use teamwork and build empathy.

By the age of three or four, you child should have the skills to play with children their own age in a cooperative manner. Turn taking, sharing, establishing rules and roles, and engaging in imaginative and creative games are all skills they are developing before the age of five. But they need your help to get there!

Luckily, play is really good for adults too. You can support your child’s play skills by prioritizing play time in your home and creating an environment that supports play.

· Allow them plenty of time to have unstructured, open ended, creative play time. Maybe that means you take extra-long to walk home because you stop to explore on the way or that you have ‘screen-free mornings’ so your child can play instead.

· Get down to their level and let them lead. Listen carefully to understand what they are playing and follow their lead. Maybe you thought they were playing with a car but it's actually a rocket ship! Let them decide the rules for games they make up and follow along without correcting them.

· Be silly! Let go of your own inhibitions and allow yourself to use silly voices, dress up, use your imagination and laugh! Just because play is important work doesn’t mean it has to be serious!

· Beware of judgement words or your own expectations. Instead of praising them for creating something ‘good’, comment on how they are enjoying the process or how you are proud of them for trying something new. Play does not need an end result or finished product to be valuable.

Spending even a few minutes a day playing with your child is an important way to show them you love them and that what they are doing is valuable!

What types of play are there?

Messy Play- Don't be scared of mess! Let them experiment with art materials such as washable paint, chalk or glue. Try making playdough together and let them dig right in to mix it all up!

Nature Play- Get outside and let them experience mud, sand, snow, dirt, water, sticks, pine cones, rocks and all things in nature. It will help their immune systems stay strong, lets them get creative and it’s fun!

Gross Motor Play- Find an open field and run, try out new playgrounds, kick or throw a ball, bike, swing, hop and balance. Kids need to practice big movement skills just like they need to practice skills like reading and math!

Fine Motor Play- String beads on a string or pipe cleaner, colour, do a puzzle, play Lego or with little cars. Anything that gets those little fingers working is great practice.

Creative/Imaginative Play- You can help them create an environment ready for imagination! Turn your bathtub into a pirate ship, your living room into a Fire Hall, your dining table into a fort and or your kitchen into a grocery store. Play ‘house’, ‘school’, ‘construction site’ ‘veterinarian’ ‘doctor’ etc.

Sensory Play- Experiment with light, sounds and textures! Play in a tub of water and bubbles with different objects that sink or float. Fill a container with rice or beans and let them scoop and pour. Give them a flashlight in a dark closet, or experiment with plastic containers as your drums.

Language games- Build their vocabulary and listening skills with activities like rhyming games, silly songs or follow the leader games where they have to listen for instructions!

For more play information and inspiration, check out this video but most importantly:

Get Playing!