“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.” - Walt Disney
Have you ever noticed that your child is a lot more focused after they’ve had some time to take a break and play with their toys or friends? That’s no accident! Play is crucial for our children’s development. It helps them learn emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills, as well as improve their academic performance.
Although most children engage in traditional forms of play, such as using their imagination or playing with toys, this tends to decline before the age of 10, as they begin to build a stronger connection with technology. As parents, it’s important to encourage our children to use their imagination and play games with their friends for as long as possible. Here’s why:
Improved Emotional Intelligence
Children explore their emotions and feelings through play. They may project how they’re feeling onto their toys or into their drawings. When playing with friends their own age, they’re learning how to navigate somebody else’s feelings and regulate their own.
According to The Role of Play in Children’s Development, “In play, children are required to regulate their own behavior, making it a significant factor in their development of self-regulation.”
The more your child explores their feelings in a pressure-free environment, like play, the better they’ll be able to calm themselves down before having a meltdown and the better they'll be able to empathize with others.
Improved Social Ties
As parents, bonding with friends and family may look like chatting over dinner, going on a walk together, or catching up over the phone. For our children, one of the best ways to create and strengthen social ties is through unstructured free time to play with their friends, like recess. Recess doesn’t just allow children to “blow off steam” during the school day. The social interaction that occurs during a break like recess is correlated with improved school success. These unstructured breaks from learning allow children to build social ties through play, which facilitates learning and boosts social competence.
Improved Reading/Writing
Around the age of 9, children will start to play with their language skills, both verbally and through written communication. Not only will language play generally improve their reading and writing skills, but it is specifically useful to significantly enhance a child’s understanding of the structure of words. Examples of language play include telling jokes, using metaphors, and repeating sounds, such as rhymes, chants, songs, etc. While you may be gritting your teeth after hearing a nursery rhyme repeated for the tenth time, this type of play can significantly improve a child’s reading and writing skills.
Practical Parenting Tips to Encourage Play
Age 8 to 12:
Encourage Problem-Solving with “Play Box Challenges:” Create a "Play Box" filled with items like art supplies, costumes, toys, or random objects. Set up weekly challenges for your child, such as making up a story based on a random item from the box, or acting out a skit using the objects.
Allow Unstructured Playdates: Schedule unstructured playdates or outdoor time with friends where the children choose what they would like to do without adult interference (safely).
Join in with Language Play: Have fun with tongue twisters, jokes, and creating silly metaphors! Play a rhyming or word association game during car rides.
Ages 13 to 16:
Use Creative Expression to Foster Emotional Intelligence: Encourage your teen to explore their emotions through art, music, photography, or journaling.
Make Your Home the Hangout Spot: Encourage your teen to invite friends over regularly and go the extra mile to organize casual hangouts or game nights.
Encourage Imagination: Teens aren’t too old for imagination, even if they might think they are. Purchase activities that allow teens to use their creativity, like this Daily Doodle Journal.
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