The Power of Play: How Kids Learn by Having Fun

They say play is the work of children – and it’s… TRUE! Through play, kids get to explore the world, interact with others and learn how their bodies work.

Kids Need Different Types of Play

While play remains a vital role in raising well-rounded children, different types of play are needed to fully engage a child’s emotional, physical, cognitive, social and intellectual development. In general, children’s play activities can take two different forms: structured play and unstructured play

Structured play

Structured play is also known as goal-oriented play. It is often led by an adult providing direction for the child to complete a task or learn a new skill. This form of play activity is important to enhance a child’s development and learning abilities as it can improve their cognitive skills, problem-solving skills and encourage resilience.

Some popular examples of structured plays include:

Board games
Puzzle
Following directions to assemble toys or Lego
Playing instruments

Unstructured play

Unstructured play means free play with no rules & no boundaries! It is child-led and child-directed, simply letting kids be kids. Children can be as creative as they like and do what interests them – painting on blank paper, dressing up, or exploring the backyards. With the freedom to play, your child can develop essential qualities such as creativity, imagination and independent thinking.

To help children get the most out of their playtime, it is crucial to find a balance between structured and unstructured activities. Toddlers should spend at least one hour for free play and 30 minutes engaging in structured play every day.

As a matter of fact, playing is more than just fun and games! Check out the benefits of penciling in enough play for your child.

Why is Play Important for Children?

Why is Play Important for Children?

Playing that involves physical activities such as crawling and running helps keep your children fit and healthy. It also helps children hone their coordination, motor skills, strength and endurance.

Allows children to manage their emotions

During play, kids learn to cope with strong emotions like excitement, fear, anger and frustration. These experiences can help them control negative emotions, reduce impulsive behaviour and learn ways of reacting to other unknown situations. Plus, play encourages kids to explore in a safe environment so that they become more willing to take challenges!

Fosters brain development

When kids explore the world by using their natural curiosity, their cognitive skills such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, learning and paying attention are all being developed.

Builds interaction and communication skills

Children learn how to interact with adults and peers during playtime, verbally and non-verbally. Through play, children can practice language skills and increase vocabulary as they are being exposed to new words. It also teaches them about sharing, cooperating, helping, turn-taking and solving problems!

The positive effects of play on children are far-reaching and it doesn’t need to be fancy! All your child need is just a space and time to go beyond their little world and use their imaginations. That’s the genius of play!