Play is not just a fun activity that helps children pass the time. It actually has an essential role in the brain development of all children, almost right after they are born. Play fosters early learning skills and boosts their imagination while also teaching them social-emotional skills and cognitive skills
Early and healthy brain development incorporates various aspects. There are four core development areas: motor, cognitive, social, emotional, and language and communication skills. These are all intertwined, and they develop and improve at a fast pace in the first couple of years of a baby’s life. Studies show that 75% of the brain develops after birth. That’s a lot of development! That is why the first three years for a kid are crucial for learning essential life skills and their brain and overall physical development.
When you think about it, play is the first language a kid speaks. Play helps kids interact with each other and the world around them in a context that they can comprehend. Simply put, children learn how to learn through play. It is a shame that play gets put on the back burner as the child gets older or when other stuff like studies gains more importance. There is an abundance of benefits of play for early child development in addition to being fun.
Play is essential for healthy brain development
In the first years of a baby’s life, many connections in the brain that are called synapses are made. Many studies have delved into figuring out how these connections are made. It is found that play can alter a baby’s brain physiology by helping make these connections. This, in turn, helps the brain to make connections in the future, building a solid foundation. The development of gross motor skills that help kids walk or jump as well as fine motor skills like writing depends on these connections. Without developmental and childhood play, children would not have as many connections, or these connections would be underdeveloped.
One other benefit of play that studies found is the strong link between communication and early childhood play. Think about it. When kids play a game, they have to solve problems at almost all of the steps. They use language and communication skills to interact with others around them. They explore, discover, and discuss what they found or express their feelings. And most importantly of them, they get creative while playing. Imagine just how much you have to improvise during pretend play!
Pretend play is an amazing tool in that sense. It allows the kid to practice and improve their vocabulary. When they are playing with their peers, they get to practice their social and emotional skills as well as communication skills. While playing, kids learn the concept of taking turns and reciprocating actions. These are all crucial daily life skills that will come in handy in the future.
Healthy body, healthy mind. These are essentially what early childhood play offers to kids. One study on the benefits of outdoor play for kids showed that outdoor play significantly improved kids’ body mass development. This amounts to a healthy body. In addition to the physical health benefits, play also provides a space for kids to let their imagination flow and get mental clarity. Berg Playbase is one way to give kids endless possibilities for outdoor play.
How Can You Encourage Healthy Brain Development
There are various tools and toys that are specifically targeted for a kid’s entertainment and brain development. But you don’t have to break the bank in order to support your kiddo’s healthy thriving.
Although it is important to make sure that you provide your kid with planned experiences where you know they will reap a certain level of benefit you are targeting, it is also important to know that not all play is created equal. Children thrive on unstructured play. Giving them the space and freedom to explore will make a world of difference. They will play on their own terms, at their own pace, and fit to their liking. They will discover, have fun, and improve at the same time.
So give them that: free, open-ended, age-appropriate play with their peers will help them literally grow their minds. Free play will help them develop divergent thinking habits, and think outside the box. They will be creative, and imagine various scenarios. The best practice is to give them the freedom to use what they have to think what they want, which will be great for their self-expression and self-confidence.
p.s. Related posts:
12 Surprising Benefits of Play by parenting guru Dr. Michele Borba
Just Playing by Anita Wadley (poem for parents of small children)
Toys My Kids Played with for Years
Make Your Own Playdough Recipe
Let’s Play Outside! Scavenger Hunt, Picnic & Book List for Kids
Fantasy Garden Play Spaces for Kids and Adults
Water Games for Kids to Play to Stay Cool with Educational Twist
Spimbey: Modular Playset with Style. Also 50% off!
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