Although they merely seem like ways for children to pass the time, activities such as playing dress up, building with blocks and climbing on playground equipment can be beneficial to their social, mental and physical development. Ensure your child has enough free time to explore, imagine and experiment to reap the benefits of play.
Social Skills
Playing with other children will help your child develop social skills, such as conflict negotiation, compromise, teamwork and self-control, notes the Raising Happiness website. Games and playground encounters allow your child to interact with peers and learn how to socialize, maintain friendships, stand up for himself and exhibit patience while waiting for his turn—skills that he’ll need through adolescence and into his adult years.
Physical Fitness
The Better Kid Care program through Penn State notes that the number of overweight children in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 19 has doubled since the 1960s. The program recommends outdoor play as a way to reduce childhood obesity. Activities such as walking, riding bicycles, swimming or simply climbing playground equipment can help children burn calories, build lean muscle and shed excess pounds.
Motor Skills
The Northern Illinois University’s Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Campus Child Care points out that a child can improve her gross motor skills by participating in sports and outdoor activities. Games, such as kickball, tennis, soccer and jump rope, may increase coordination and athletic prowess. The site also notes that playing video games can help develop a child’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination as she learns how to time jumps, dodge obstacles or complete puzzles on the television or computer screen.
Educational Concepts
Simple activities, such as playing with blocks, can teach a child basic educational skills, according to the Provider-Parent Partnerships website. Children can discover colors, shapes and sizes with a set of colorful blocks, for example, while printed versions can also help children recognize numbers, letters and objects that include animals, household items and foods. As children get older, parents and educators can use blocks as manipulatives to teach addition and subtraction or use letter blocks to help children spell short words.
Self-Esteem
Through games and imaginative play, children can build self-confidence by facing fears, overcoming obstacles and learning new physical or intellectual skills, notes the Colorado State University Extension website. The site notes that engaging in children’s games and activities with parents, older siblings and caregivers can strengthen emotional ties and boost the child’s self-esteem as he works alongside his role models. Playing alone also has benefits for the child, such as developing a sense of independence and self-reliance. Whether your child is playing independently or as part of a group, ensure he doesn’t become overly frustrated or discouraged by providing a selection of age-appropriate toys and games.
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