The Importance of Play

Andrea Al Adwani, UAS K-12 Counseling Psychologist

"Play is the work of children, and this is no trivial activity."  Alfred Adler

The Language of Play
Play is the first language of children, and words are their second language.  Children continue to learn spoken language basics until the age of 13, and then continue to develop their understanding of spoke and written language for many years after that.  Children think in terms of real, physical, material images, while adults can think in words and theoretical ideas.  When learning a second or third language, adults may have difficulty expressing their thoughts clearly or might struggle to have complete understanding of a conversation in a new language.  The same is true with children.  When children must translate their thoughts into the adult accepted language of words, they may struggle to fit their thoughts into the adult world of words. Play does not have this limitation. Children can create, explore, process, and master concepts in play without the great effort and frustration to make their thoughts understandable to adults.

The Functions of Play
Play helps to improve a child’s physical and mental self.  Play:

• Improves muscle development and coordination (hand eye coordination, fine motor and gross motor skills)
• Helps to release a child’s extra energy, (which can prevent them from getting into trouble during quieter activities.)
• Provides kinesthetic stimulation.
• Helps them to develop internal controls such as understanding new situations, resolving conflicts, or sort out misconceptions
• Practice social skills and develop their own individual character.  
• Learns about culture and the roles of the people around them.
• Develops confidence in self and the capacity to relate himself to the world,
• Expresses emotions.  Children can communicate and process emotions through play. 
• Joins together complex thoughts, emotions, and social elements into the child’s thinking and behavior
• Encourages creativity + use of imagination for better problem solving skills.
• Increases interest, involvement, and increases attention spans.
• Develops appropriate skills to cope with defeats, sufferings, and frustrations.
• Is refreshing + provides a rest from daily demands and stresses.
• Enables children to learn to live in the adult symbolic world of meanings and values
• Allows children to explore, experiment, and learn in their own individual way.

Keeping Play Safe
Play should be both emotionally and physically safe.

• In a make believe world the child can exercise the need for control without competition, evaluation, or judgment.
• During play children are safe to make mistakes without adult ridicule.
• Sharp edges and small pieces should be kept away from small children who can choke or get hurt.
• Older children need bicycle helmets, life vests, elbow/knee pads for active outdoor play.
• Please watch your children while they are using any type of motorized vehicle, as accidents can happen very quickly.

Play with Your Child
When parents play with their children, they can honor their children with love, unconditional acceptance, and understanding.  The positive results of a parent accepting a child through play are more powerful and longer lasting than anyone else playing with the child. 

 

 

Parent and child play:

• Strengthens family relationships and develops collaboration
• Increases playfulness, humor, empathy, respect, and genuineness
• Increases the child’s self confidence
• Increases child’s trust and confidence in parents, reduces problem behaviors
• Creates an open, cohesive family atmosphere for a balanced child development
• Decrease parents feelings of frustration with child
• Increases and improves communication with child
• Increases feelings of warmth and trust between child and parent
• Reduces family stress
  

Types of Toys for Home Play
Children need a variety of toys to learn and develop.  It is not necessary to have every toy on the list, but children should have at least a few items from each category.
Imagination- action figures, dolls, puppets, costumes, doll house, castle, kings, queens, fairies, magic wand, cars, trucks, fire truck, animals, books
Realistic play- construction, telephone, cash register + pretend money, kitchen, doll house, doctor kit.  Older kids like science kits, digital cameras, remote control cars and planes, microscope, telescope
Aggression- dinosaurs, soldiers,
Expressive- crayons, markers, paper, blocks, play dough/clay, sand, paint, musical instruments, cloth, blocks.  For older kids- glitter, craft kits, scrap booking supplies, origami, jewelry making, diary, music and art lessons, cooking.
Action- balls, bikes, skates, jump rope, hula hoop, ring toss. Older kids like lessons- dance, drama, sports such as Little League baseball, soccer, swimming.
Strategy + taking turns- board games, cards, puzzles.  Older kids also like advanced lego kits, building model cars, boats, and robots, and rocket kits
Nature- plant a flower, feed a fish, sand box, bowl of water, bath toys, water guns, run and climb in a park, take a walk, fly a kite
 
Toys to Limit or Eliminate
Electronic toys such as TV, computer, iphone, ipad, PSP, Xbox, and Wii are fun and can even be educational, but if used for a long time they can also be over stimulating with fast moving lights, pictures, sounds, and colors.  Too much time with digital games and images increases hyper active behavior, decreases attention spans, and decreases creativity.  For the best balance, children should have a maximum of 1 hour a day of electronic entertainment during the week and maximum-2 hours daily on weekends.

Violent movies and games also negatively effect children and teens.  Many years of research on children and teenagers shows that those who watch violent television and movies and those who play violent video games have increased aggressive behavior, are easily angered, and have more aggression-related thoughts and feelings. Playing violent video games also decreases positive social behavior.

Parents want to give children fun toys, but please recognize when your child is too young for certain items.  ATV/buggies/4 wheelers come in many sizes.  It is not safe for an 8 or 10 year old to drive an adult size buggy.  Also, children should not be allowed to drive cars when they are not old enough to have a proper license.  We want the children to remain healthy and safe when they enjoy their time in play.

This article is based on the research and publications of Denise + Mark Weston, Nancy Curry, Sara Arnaud, Frank Caplan, Theresa Caplan, Dr Kevin O Connor, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, Craig A. Anderson, Brad J. Bushman, Dr Daniel Sweeney, and Dr Gary Landreth .