Photo: Richard Leeming. Creative Commons.

Play

Play in early childhood is a vital component of all aspects of child development
Children simply love to play and play is vital for child development and education in early childhood. Research has found links between how children play and how they develop. However, there is much to learn about the role of play and play-based learning in different cultures. Discover more in the articles on play in early childhood below.

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Play encourages invention in children, as is obvious to anyone watching a young child play. Play is part of developing social and emotional skills, and is also part of learning – including acquiring cognitive and language skills and even math skills. But western education tends to undervalue play and view it as a luxury.

Talking to toddlers while they play transforms language development in early childhood. Executive function is associated with parents helping children do a puzzle.

What of purely pretend play? There are no clear links between this and future development or the growth of individual creativity, and some researchers believe it may even disrupt children’s thinking. Other researchers disagree. Pretend play is intrinsic, universal, and natural to humans, and perhaps it helps develop causal and moral judgment in children. It could also help children cope with intense emotions and unsettling experiences.

Play is a way many fathers contribute to child development – it is associated with more secure father-infant attachment and higher math skills. Engaging fathers in play is a way that services can support disadvantaged families.

The impacts of play deprivation illustrate the importance of play: isolation, depression, reduced self-control, poor resilience, and even criminality.

Play

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Articles 9 of 37