The Power of Play: How Play Stimulates Brain Development in Children
/The power of play in early childhood cannot be overstated. Play not only helps children physically, it is a child’s natural way of learning and exploring the world around them. It allows children to use their imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. Play also helps to develop important social-emotional skills, such as communication, cooperation, and empathy. Children learn to share, take turns, and collaborate through play. They express their feelings, emotions, and ideas through play. Over the next several months, Gillis Education will highlight the many benefits of play and how you and your family can incorporate play in small, yet impactful ways.
There are several different types of play, each with its own unique set of benefits. In this blog, we cover just a few main types of play.
Independent Play: Independent play is when children play alone and engage in activities without adult supervision or interaction with others. Through independent play, children develop a sense of self and autonomy.
Parallel Play: Parallel play is when children play alongside other children, but do not interact with them.
Associative Play: Through associative play, children play together and interact with one another, but without a specific goal or activity in mind. This type of play encourages communication and social skills.
Cooperative Play: Cooperative play is when children work together to achieve a specific task or goal. They collaborate, share ideas and resources, and problem solve. This type of play is especially important for building problem-solving skills and teamwork.
Competitive Play: Children engage in competitive play when they are involved in activities with the goal of winning or outperforming others. This is great for sportsmanship and self-regulation.
Constructive Play: Constructive play involves building materials such as blocks, legos, or other manipulatives to create structures or designs. Constructive play helps children develop their spatial awareness and fine motor skills.
What types of play do your children typically engage in? How do you incorporate play into your child’s day?