Children learn and grow by exploring the world around them. How can parents and caregivers help littles ones in this important stage of development? Make time for play.
According to the National Assocation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), play fosters development, learning and skill building; it is at the core of a child’s physical, mental and emotional growth.
NAEYC is a professional organization dedicated to high-quality early learning for young children by connecting early childhood practice, policy and research. With a vision to ensure all children reach their full potential, NAEYC believes parents should know these 10 things about play:
- Children learn through their play.
- Play is healthy.
- Play reduces stress.
- Play is more than meets the eye.
- Make time for play.
- Play and learning go hand-in-hand.
- Play outside.
- There’s a lot to learn about play.
- Trust your own playful instincts.
- Play is a child’s context for learning.
With fifteen years as a mental health therapist specializing in children, adolescents and families, Children’s Trust’s Parent Engagement Coordinator Leesa Nelson agrees on the power of play for children. But she believes play is critical for parents as well. When parents play as adults, it continues their focus on the importance of play, it models play throughout growth stages and it keeps them grounded to reap the benefits of play.
As a society, we are taught to value work more than play, not understanding that play can be integrated into both the workplace and at home. Play is what connects us to creativity. When it is seen as “silly” or “unnecessary,” we devalue play and teach our children to do the same. Play is like setting the blueprint for how children will cope with challenges as they get older; it’s the platform where they learn compromise, problem solving, socialization and self-esteem. There is such relief and healing in being silly for both children and adults.
How can parents incorporate more play into their everyday lives? It can look like anything from hiking, to making up silly stories with your children, to making chores an exciting and fun experience. For example, make a game out of vacuuming in which your child helps as a “floor monster” who only survives by sucking up all the trash and dirt from the floor.
You can also find fun things to do based on where you live. South Carolina has offers many ways to get outside as a family—whether it is one of the 47 state parks, the state fair in Columbia or annual festival across the state. The fun thing about play is that the options are endless to be present with kids or yourself. Take what has come up for you as you’ve read this and experiment.
