Children’s play has an important role in the development of childhood and it is that, when children play, they create the basis of their intellectual, social, physical and emotional skills , which is undoubtedly very useful for the rest of their lives. Also, when children play with other children, they learn to combine ideas, impressions, and feelings with the experiences and opinions of others, allowing them to improve in socialization and in patience and tolerance.
Free and unstructured games for children are always the most recommended, as they enhance creativity, help discover personal tastes and desires, and develop problem-solving skills. When it comes to playing, children should be free to decide and choose, without the game being imposed by the elders around them, since this is how they can truly be themselves and feel safe.
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Recommended types of games and their benefits
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- Mix water and sand or stack blocks. These activities develop mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, and cognitive problem solving. Through blocks, for example, a child learns things like depth, width, height, length, measure, volume, area, classification, shape, symmetry, sizes … And not only That, because building with blocks also teaches concepts related to art, such as patterns, symmetry or balance. When children play with simple blocks they also learn about symbolic representation, maps, grids, or life skills . Let’s think that just keeping something in a drawer makes children use concepts such as spatial relationship, stability or balance, and that is something that should also be put into practice with building blocks.
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- The imaginative game. Imaginative play develops creativity and flexibility, and makes it almost better than any other for children’s brains to develop and mold. Imaginative play helps youngsters to concentrate , to be attentive, to develop empathy and to use self-control. A very good idea is to “play supermarket”, since in all this imaginative process the children will have to set up the counter, take out and sell food, invite others to buy or use the cash register… All these actions help the children to learn on sequential acts, which is very important for day to day. If a story or a script is also added to these games, the little ones will easily learn to carry out each of the necessary steps in a logical and orderly way, which will be useful for future times.
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- The simulation games. Especially in groups, pretend games promote conversation, communication and social problem solving skills in young children. These types of games allow children to simplify and understand the adult world a little better and feel much more involved in it. This way of playing allows them to get closer to the world that surrounds them, for example through professions , promoting joy, learning to take turns or share, as well as to work and cooperate in groups or improve vocabulary.
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Things we can do to promote play in childhood
- Give the little ones the time they need to explore, discover and manipulate the environment. We must bear in mind that long and uninterrupted periods are needed to make the game free and truly spontaneous . Said periods must be at least 45 minutes, and may be more than one hour.
- Provide materials that encourage them to create their own world, such as a stack of cardboard boxes, a trunk of clothing, blankets, pots and pans, or toy bills and coins for useful practice while having fun.
- Be vigilant and involved when required, especially if children are doing something new and are frustrated at not being able to master a skill. Stay by their side on the slide until they feel safe and there is no danger or show them how a cardboard box can be something incredible, but always trying not to prevent them from living and experiencing a series of risks of their own (always logical and lacking a real danger) for their age, such as tripping or falling in the park or from the bicycle while they are learning.
- Be clear that sometimes disorder, noise or nonsense are part of the game, so it makes no sense to scold a child for getting dirty playing in the street with their friends or for filling the floor with toys in their playtime. leisure.
- Always encourage children to play outdoors, because nature provides a rich environment for sensory stimulation , as well as boisterous, vigorous and physically active play ideal for developing strength, balance or coordination in children.
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