Resource—
Play is a crucial part of the childhood experience for humans and many young animals. It serves an essential role in developing the skills we need in adulthood. Tamariki are naturally curious, driven to explore and master tasks. The environment and experiences they encounter can significantly influence how inclined they are to play.
Defining play can be challenging, but typically it involves a number of key characteristics:
- It is intrinsically motivating; children engage in play for its own sake
- Children are actively involved
- It is enjoyable fun
- It is flexible and adaptable.
We can look at play along a continuum, ranging from free play to guided play and structured games. The nature of play can vary depending on who initiates it (the child or an adult) and who directs it. Each type of play has its own benefits and supports different parts of development.
It may be children engage in play alone or with others, structured of unstructured. Structured play may often involve adult guidance and specific goals such as board games or sports while unstructured play is typically open-ended and led entirely by the child.
There is more to play than just fun; it is essential for their holistic development. When tamariki play their physical and mental growth is supported building a wide range of skills all at the same time.
Some developmental benefits of play include:
- Building physical and motor skills
- Encouraging creativity
- Promoting social skills through peer interactions
- Developing executive functions, such as self-regulation and impulse control
- Building resilience and supporting mental well-being
- Reducing stress levels
- Building language and early numeracy and literacy skills
When children play, they learn to collaborate, negotiate and face challenges, all of which contribute to their resilience. Play also has the benefit of mirroring the cultural context of the people involved which provides a diverse learning experience.
Our brains are developed through play. When tamariki have ample opportunities to play, they will often develop stronger neural connections and social skills. Social play engages multiple brain regions involved in the emotional, cognitive and social processes.
For tamariki experiencing stress or adversity, play can be especially beneficial. When we play there is a sense of enjoyment and normalcy, which is key in helping children cope. Shared play between whanau and children can help reduce stress responses, with small play sessions significantly lowering stress and anxiety in young children, even more so than passive activities like listening to a book.
When tamariki engage in pretend play, they are able to process their emotions and make sense of their experiences in a safe and controlled manner.
While toys are a common aspect of play, the key element is the interaction between children and their caregivers. Research indicates that fewer toys can lead to longer and higher-quality periods of joint attention between children and adults which aids language and social skill development. Additionally, toddlers with fewer toys tend to engage more deeply and creatively with the toys they have.
