You say that you love your children,
And are concerned that they learn today,
As am I, that’s why I’m providing
A Variety of kinds of play.

You are asking what’s the value
Of having your children play?
Your daughter’s creating a tower,
She may be a builder someday.

You’re asking me the value
Of blocks and sand and clay.
Your children are solving problems,
They will use that skill every day.

You’re saying that you don’t want your son
To play in that girly way.
He’s learning to cuddle a doll,
He may be a father someday.

You’re questioning the learning centers,
They just look like useless play.
Your children are making choices,
They’ll be on their own someday.

You’re worried your children aren’t learning
And later they’ll have to pay.
They’re learning a pattern for learning,
For they’ll be learning always!

– Laurie Monopoli

“Okay, now that you’re done with chores/homework, you can go and play!”

Growing up, we have all heard this line or context or something similar that suggests that play is a reward! We grew up listening to anecdotes and stories of play and frolic and adventures from our elders, and most importantly, their life lessons through their experiences. Now that we have grown up, in keeping up with the times, we could relate to the feelings of our ancestors when they shared their stories with an aim to bond with and share their life lessons with their young ones. Little did we know, it’s not “just” play, they are life skills.

Child: “Play is my work”

“When I’m building in the block room, please don’t say I’m JUST playing. For you see, I’m learning as I play, about balance and shapes. Who knows, I may be an architect someday!”

That sounds simple, learn through play. However, it is profound. Playing is extremely essential for children of 2 to 4 years of age. Playing techniques are indispensable for a child’s emotional, cognitive, physical, and social growth. Parents must be at their creative best to guide, support, and encourage children to play.

As infants squish the pea, they are learning about the hard on the outside, soft on the inside, green ball that tastes bland once they lick it. When you see your child throwing things off the table, they’re testing the object, they want to know what happens to it when it is out of their sight, whether it makes a sound or not when it is thrown like other toys? Through play, children develop their necessary skills, their curiosity, confidence, empathy, negation, flexibility, problem-solving, verbal & non-verbal skills, communication, sharing, motor skills, and decision-making.

Psychologist Jean Piaget viewed play as an integral element to the development of intelligence in children. He believes the child matures, their environment and play must encourage and challenge further cognitive and language development.

Prescription for Play

“When you see me ‘reading’ to an imaginary audience, don’t laugh and think I’m JUST playing. For you see, I’m learning as I play. I may be a teacher some day!”

Peek-a-boo to hide-&-seek, the floor is lava to catch the killer, all of these forms of plays are enriching for a child’s body, brain, and life.

The dynamic world for families and children is evolving, with tightly structured or nuclear families, overflowing work and school schedules, more working parents, increased access to media and rising screen times, and fewer open and safe spaces, are limiting the opportunities of gaining benefits through play!

We are at a junction where doctors might have to begin writing medical prescriptions for ‘play’ for the child that visits them, starting at age 1!

Play acts as a stress buster for boosting a child’s health and development. Play provides a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that creates a healthy buffer to protect against stress continues to build emotional resilience, and fosters social relationships. The one-on-one interaction and shared joy and connection manages the stress responses of a child’s body and improves attachment.

Power of Play

Play acts as a medium for children to make sense of the world around them. It is how infants and toddlers discover and grow and develop and learn about their surroundings and life.

There are various types of play, and each type has characteristic benefits. Child-led play allows them to have complete independence and true autonomy. Guided-play involves teachers presenting activities, provocations, explorations, or games set up for children to play with. These can target areas of development and knowledge areas.

Research suggests that outdoor play imaginary play encourages the brain to mature at a reasonably faster rate than indoor imaginary play. These interactions lead to better language development, sociable behavior, and generally happier children. Outdoor play is the best for our physical health. It increases our access to Vitamin D from the sun, this generally improves memory, increases energy, and improves mood. The ‘real outside world’ is the best canvas for learning the curriculum as well, empowering and equipping them for their future life by learning practical skills to navigate their world.

Love thy brain, and feed thy brain. The type of play children engage in reflects their cognitive basis, interest, and development. There are generally functional play, constructive play, symbolic/fantasy/dramatic play, and play with rules.

Watching your child play is equally important as joining your child in play. Children living in their make-believe world might not want you to enter their imaginative world. As a parent, you must create an amicable way to join in by coaxing and then letting the child lead for you. This is one of the best ways to teach and often correct a child when they play pretend; they are taking inputs from their surroundings to create a world of their own. Their vivid imagination gives you input about their thoughts.

A parent need not purchase new and upgraded toys all the time for the child. A little bit of creativity and imagination for constructive play from the parents’ end goes a long way in the growth of a child.

Next time you hear yourself telling your child to play later, remember it’s their work to play! It is only preparing them for the real world. And from what we see, we need to impart good navigation skills for life.

I am Two,
I was not built to sit still,
To keep my hands to myself,
Take turns,
Stand in line,
Or keep quiet
All of the time.
I need:
Motion,
Novelty,
Adventure,
And to engage the world
With my whole body!
Let Me Play!