The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood
The Importance of Play in Early Childhood: How it helps a child’s mental development
Joy Marie Neri
Empire State College
Exploring the Professions: Children and Child Care
December, 2014
Abstract
Play in a child’s life is extremely important. Starting with mental, social, health and just how they will develop as they grow. In researching several theories, we will look at how play and the lack there of has changed over the years. How children react to play and the environment they are placed in. Children tell us a lot without us always seeing the signs. Play does contribute to the way children deal with experiences in their life.
Keywords: play, develop, environment, research and theory
The Importance of Play in Early Childhood: How it helps a child’s mental development Playing is such an enormous component in a child’s life, and knowing that children want moments to participate in self-driven play is of such importance to teachers, instructor, coaches, tutors, caregivers and parents. Play time with parents and children is very important for both parties. It gives parents time to just relax and enjoy that moment with their kids and it gives children that sense of security and enjoyment with their parents. We see now a days that life is so busy and we have so many electronics for parents and children that we forget the simplicity of having a catch, hitting the ball, push on the swing and riding bikes. However, “free play” is such a significant aspect to our children’s daily growth and their need to be able to have and use their imagination. Imagination is such an essential tool for an adolescents, it helps them acquire about and a way to look at people and events that will not affect them in their real life. For example, it allows them to look at “what will I be when I grow up”, when reading a story they can visualize a “shipwreck” or “the big bad wolf”. “The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere
Joy Marie Neri
Empire State College
Exploring the Professions: Children and Child Care
December, 2014
Abstract
Play in a child’s life is extremely important. Starting with mental, social, health and just how they will develop as they grow. In researching several theories, we will look at how play and the lack there of has changed over the years. How children react to play and the environment they are placed in. Children tell us a lot without us always seeing the signs. Play does contribute to the way children deal with experiences in their life.
Keywords: play, develop, environment, research and theory
The Importance of Play in Early Childhood: How it helps a child’s mental development Playing is such an enormous component in a child’s life, and knowing that children want moments to participate in self-driven play is of such importance to teachers, instructor, coaches, tutors, caregivers and parents. Play time with parents and children is very important for both parties. It gives parents time to just relax and enjoy that moment with their kids and it gives children that sense of security and enjoyment with their parents. We see now a days that life is so busy and we have so many electronics for parents and children that we forget the simplicity of having a catch, hitting the ball, push on the swing and riding bikes. However, “free play” is such a significant aspect to our children’s daily growth and their need to be able to have and use their imagination. Imagination is such an essential tool for an adolescents, it helps them acquire about and a way to look at people and events that will not affect them in their real life. For example, it allows them to look at “what will I be when I grow up”, when reading a story they can visualize a “shipwreck” or “the big bad wolf”. “The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere