Introduction
Many parents know that play is important for their children’s development; however, they rarely connect it to child development. They assume that learning is only associated with classwork, such as writing, memorizing, and counting (Majumdar 9). People believe playing is only for fun purposes and no learning is involved. However, studies have shown that play involves learning, and the benefits of play in childhood cannot be underestimated in a child’s life. This study will highlight the importance of play in childhood development.
Discussion
One of the main benefits of play in a child is that it boosts brain development by giving the child a better understanding of the world around them and laying the groundwork for enhancing brain growth. When a child is born, they usually have many brain cell connections called synapses, ensuring that information captured at an early age builds the brain’s foundation. Therefore, a child brought up in an environment full of play items such as toys provides a perfect background for brain development (Majumdar 11). On the contrary, the lack of play for children leads to the loss of neuron connections altering the brain’s growth and development process.
The other importance of play in a child is that it increases their problem-solving skills through puzzles and games. For instance, it was found that children who played make-believe were able to stimulate some types of learning (Majumdar 11). In addition, when children engage in role-playing by imitating adults, they improve their language skills. The other game is playing house, whereby they assign themselves roles such as the house’s father, mother, and children. This game helps them create stories and improve their vocabulary by imitating their family experiences (Majumdar 12). Children can use these experiences to improve their problem-solving skills while playing different games.
Playing is important to childhood development because it enhances creativity. As children play, they develop their imaginations, essential to creativity and brain development (Majumdar 12). Play enables children to grasp various skills and attributes, such as confidence and the ability to bounce back from drawbacks effectively. For instance, if a child is playing the game of stacking blocks and the whole structure falls when stacking the last piece, the child gets disappointed. However, with time they get used to the disappointment and know how to let things go by building another structure. This shows that other than boosting their creativity, play enables children to express their experiences, fears, and frustration at times.
When children play together, they get to learn how to be part of a group. Group play allows them to learn various skills such as sharing, negotiation, working within groups, and problem-solving (Majumdar 12). Children are subjected to decision-making when they play, and since they move at their own pace, they can discover their interests during play. If the groups are unstructured, it may lead to more physical movement of the children, which is very healthy for their bodies. This shows that group play is important for developing essential skills in a child.
Conclusion
Unlike what most people think, that play by children is only done for fun; this study has revealed that playing has essential development benefits for children. Playing allows a child to understand the world around them, boosting their brain development. Additionally, playing increases children’s problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to be part of a group. These are essential skills children will likely use for the rest of their lives. Therefore, parents should be encouraged to let their children play to reap these benefits. Remember, lack of play leads to loss of neurons, dragging brain growth and development.
Work Cited
Majumdar, Ananda. “Role of play in child development.” International Journal of Technical Research & Science, vol. 05, no. 04, Apr. 2020, pp. 9–16, Web.