Research indicates that children learn best in an environment which allows them to explore, discover, and play. Play is an important part of a developmentally appropriate classroom. It is also closely tied to the development of cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical behaviors. But what exactly does it mean to play and why is it so important for young children?
Constructive play helps children develop social skills while laying an important foundation for reading and math. Children who set up a pretend post office or a restaurant in what is called a “dramatic play area” learn how to take turns, how to speak clearly to one another, and how to make up their own stories — stories that are the foundation for writing. And the best conversation happen in the dramatic play area! This is where children feel free to share their thoughts with their friends.
Playing with blocks teaches children the basics of math as they learn that two small blocks put together have the same length as one long block. They also learn risk taking as explore different ways to construct with blocks.
Children who never learn to play with one another , who rely on grown-ups to resolve disputes — never learn the self-regulation and teamwork for their adulthood. That is why it is so important to allow children free, unstructured play to help nurture their social and language skills.
If you are interested in reading about play in schools, feel free to click on the pictures below to connect to two articles. I always love to read things like this. :-)
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