The Power of Play – Play and Young Children

As early childhood educators, we plant seeds of creativity within the children in our care. Being able to offer fun and exciting ways for a child’s young mind to explore and have fun while learning, is a key component in their growth. Through play, children learn more about the world and themselves. Giving children the opportunity to experience play during their early years has a huge role in their cognitive development.

Through play…

Through play, they learn how to form conclusions, use reason, come up with creative ideas, and understand patience. Being able to explore new things while having fun supports healthy brain development. Often through play children create challenges, children test themselves and find out their own limits. They learn how to deal with risk through play and can use these same skills later in life. Offering fun activities allows a young child to see, hear, touch, and explore new things. Playtime not only helps develop a young child’s mind but also is beneficial for their physical health. Play and young children are integral to learning. Physical play such as running, skipping, and jumping helps children develop stamina, balance, agility, and coordination. Having these needs met, while also having the element of playfulness makes a child feel good, happy, and satisfied.

Playtime promotes essential skills.

Learning and growing together while playing, children learn and develop important skills they will continue to use throughout their lifetime. Some of the skills promoted are compassion, empathy, kindness and even sharing. Playtime with other children is just as important in development as playtime alone. Playing with other children helps develop teamwork skills, cultivate social skills, display affection, recognize and respond to others’ feelings, as well as foster friendships… playing alone helps a child to focus, display independence, use their imagination, and help build a childs’ confidence.

This blog was created by Nolette Rivera who is currently a student at CDAClass.org.  Where she hopes to become a Child Center Director once she obtains her Child Development Associate (CDA). Nolette currently works in the Healthcare field and has previously worked with children for six years at the Gary Community School Cooperation as an F.A.C.E (Family and Community Engagement) Liaison and 2 years at the Boys and Girls Club of America as a membership coordinator. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, especially her 3 beautiful children (Nilah, Nae, and Noah).