Play isn't just for fun. It's a necessity. Play is how kids develop fine and gross motor skills, build core strength, learn to make friends, gain independence, develop problem solving skills, develop object manipulation skills, and so much more. And these types of skills provide an important foundation for later academic and non-academic learning.
Movement Activates Neural Pathways
Giving kids ample time to play makes academic learning easier. Movement activates neural pathways and primes the brain for learning. Active play provides the perfect environment for developing brains to thrive. Kids instinctively seek out the kinds of activities that their bodies and brains need to develop properly. As parents and educators we need to stop trying to train this instinct out of them.
When your kids are fidgeting too much during a lesson or seem to have lost interest, take a break. Go outside and play, do a few jumping jacks, go for a walk, do something that incorporates movement. This will burn excess energy and help prime the brain to be ready to absorb information again.
Pre-Academic Skills
In order to be able to read well and to write efficiently later on, there are specific skills that kids need to develop first. These skills include things like core body strength, hand and finger strength, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, object manipulation skills (the ability to skillfully manipulate tools), and visual perception skills (the brain's ability to interpret visual images like letters and numbers). And play provides the perfect environment for developing these important pre-academic skills. This is why I generally recommend against introducing formal learning during the preschool and kindergarten years. Children can learn everything that they need to learn at that age by simply playing and interacting with the world around them. Formal lessons tend to just get in the way.
You can read more about pre-academic skills and their importance here: Your Preschooler Doesn't Need Formal Curriculum.
Non-Academic Skills
In addition to the important pre-academic training play provides, it also provides ample opportunities for developing many important non-academic skills. Things like self confidence, risk assessment skills, how to make friends, how to be a good friend, and how to ride a bike can all be learned through play.
Before anyone freaks out on me, risky play doesn't mean just letting your kids do risky or dangerous things without any support or supervision. It means that instead of wrapping our kids in bubble wrap or hovering over their every move, we give them space to try new things and to engage in some small calculated risks. Some examples of risky play include:
- Exploring heights (tree climbing and climbing structures)
Playing with high speeds (running, riding a bike, roller skating)
-Working with tools (whittling, fort building, crafting)
-Interaction with natural elements (water play, fire building)
-Rough-and-tumble play (play wrestling, play fighting, tumbling)
Contrary to what you might assume, risky play actually reduces the risk of injury in the long run. Risk assessment is something that is nearly impossible to learn from behind a desk. Engaging in risky play offers children opportunities to explore their limits, develop self-confidence and executive functioning skills, build strong bodies and healthy nervous systems, and develop problem solving skills, all of which lead to better risk assessment skills and a lower risk of injury.
Play is Important for Physical Health
Many people today are plagued with ailments that are the result of being in poor physical condition. We're becoming an increasingly sedentary species, and it's not doing any favors for our physical health. Play is the easiest way to ensure that our kids are getting enough exercise and physical activity each day. Most child development experts recommend at least 3 hours a day of physical play for preschool-aged kids and at least 2 hours a day of play/physical activity for school-aged kids.
The Evidence
Below are links to research and resources that emphasize the importance of play. I encourage you to check them out!
-Psychology Today: Early Academic Training Produces Long Term Harm by Peter Gray Ph.D
-1000 Hours Outside: Play is the Main Occupation of Children, Interview with Angela Hanscom
-The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development of Young Children from The American Academy of Pediatrics
Play is an essential part of childhood. Make sure your kids get plenty of time for it!
If you enjoyed this post, check out:
Your Preschooler Doesn't Need Formal Curriculum
The Importance of Writing Readiness: The Case for Delaying Writing Instruction
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