Play is Vital.It is as important as the food we feed our child and the rest time we make them observe.It helps to create a healthy level in their learning and emotional growth.Play helps children express joy, and sadness.It is the fun part of life.Children's personalities, how they view and interpret the world is expressed through play.Through play children learn to challenge their surroundings, they get a positive sense of self and mastery. They start to recognize their own positive sense of self and how much potential is present within themselves for success.When children play; when they use their imgination, they are transported to the place where anything is possible. ( They are Mommies, Daddies,Pirates, Explorer's, and cavemen.They are whatever their imagination can dream up!)They involve all areas of creativity, motor skills, social skills and problem solving.(Have you ever tried to keep up with a 3 year old?)They use this time in such a way that not they even they realize the development in reading and thinking skills that is taking place for them.When they read to their 'stuffies', whether mimicking or real, when they play teacher, when they play mommy and nurse their 'babies' back to health they are learning and formulating solutions.
During play children work through emotions; learn to manage situations, and get a clearer sense of relationships,values, and ethics.Children's language skills grow surprisingly as do areas of reasoning, and thinking. the other perk is that, through play there is an increase in parent child bonding. Opportunites for informal conversations, and a variety of teachable moments lend themselves nicely to those quiet times where parent and child are engaged in play.Let your child guide you in their play. In the next moment guide them.Play should be free chosen and nothing should be taken for granted.Play will answer many questions about who your child is and how they are relating to their world. It may surprise you how much you learn.
One Book I recommend is "Playful Parenting".It adds a light playful side to all aspects of parenting.
I will recommend, or direct you to this book often in my blogs because it deals with many areas of parenting and family life. I have used it both personally and professionally.
