ALL Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children, at an early age, engage and interact in the world around them.
Outdoor Play
Children get more vigorous exercise when they are outdoors. It provides children with greater freedom to develop their athletic abilities. To run fast, jump far, and climb high. Outdoor play helps children get enough sunlight which is essential for their bodies and brains. When children play in green spaces, they reap special psychological benefits, including controlling stress, and enhancing concentration. Positive nature experiences teach children to respect and protect the environment. Natures natural obstacles encourages children to take calculated risks and become more confident in their abilities.
But our world has changed so much over recent years. Children are not given the same level of freedom as their grandparents or even parents had when they were children. Why? The Fear culture – fear of injury, illness, and abduction.
Technology – tablets, phones, consoles. However, much adverts and apps tell you they are educational, the reality is they do not help your child’s development at all
Measured activities – so many clubs now. Football, swimming, gymnastics, dance. But these are structured and disciplined
Living in this modern world is not easy for parents with young children. So how can parents ensure their children are getting the opportunities they need to play freely and develop skills and independence?
Indoor play – Role Play Centres
Developing social skills -During imaginary play, there are no rules, no restrictions, no right or wrong
When children pretend to be something or someone different from themselves, they naturally use both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
This helps young children develop the skills they need to socialise and cooperate with their peers.
They learn how to manage emotions and how to respect the decisions of others. These are essential social skills.
Communication and language skills- Children copy and practice the words they have heard others saying. This is ultimately how they develop vocabulary and language skills.
Role play typically involves lots of talking. Within a role play environment young children share their language skills effortlessly within their imaginative worlds
Not only does role play promote language development, but it also promotes essential listening skills.
Cognitive development- Make believe play involves children recalling pictures they have built up in their mind from past experiences.
Children will recall their mum or dad paying for goods at a supermarket. With imaginary play children recreate these scenes they have built up in their heads.
Pretend play is critical for cognitive skills and helping children build the ability to solve problems and draw their own conclusions.
Physical development- Imaginary play provides opportunity for children to be active. Pretend play also helps develop children’s gross and fine motor skills.
From putting on their fireman’s outfit or princess shoes, to filling up their trolley at the supermarket, role play offers perfect opportunities to develop hand-eye coordination.
Role play supports the development of motor skills in natural ways: sweeping, ironing, lifting, pushing, pulling
Indoor play – Soft play
Soft play areas provide a safe and fun environment for young children to interact and develop essential life skills. Pillows, cushions, bolsters, wedges, and tunnels encourage exploration, creativity, motor planning and gross motor abilities. Physical development- Soft play centres provide an area where children can move and explore freely. Indoor play areas offer a range of soft play obstacles and equipment for children to tackle, they encourage children to run, jump, hop and crawl around with their friends while having fun. Experts say that kids require at least 1 hour of play every day to maintain a healthy weight and feeling great.