The Value of Play

By Mardi Lucich, MA California Childcare Health Program

Updated on Apr 6, 20
What is play and why is it important?
!rom earlie"t infancy, play i" the primary #ay children learn$ %hrough play, children
eagerly u"e all the &tool"' they ha(e at their di"po"altheir )odie", their relation"hip"
#ith their family and peer", and the #orld around them$ Play, more than any other
acti(ity, fuel" healthy de(elopment of young children$ *t i" through play that much of
children+" early learning i" achie(ed$
Children play )ecau"e it i" fun$ Play ta,e" many form", )ut the heart of play i" plea"ure$
And #ith plea"ure come" the po#erful dri(e to repeat "uch acti(itie"$ -ith repetition
come" ma"tery$ And ma"tery )ring" a "en"e of accompli"hment and con.dence$
Types and stages of play
Children engage in di/erent type" of play depending upon circum"tance" and particular
need"$ %ype" of play include0
1olitarychildren playing alone and independently, follo#ing their o#n intere"t"
#ithout reference to other"$
2nloo,erchildren #ho #atch other children playing, a", 3ue"tion" and ma,e
"ugge"tion", )ut do not enter into the play$
Parallelchildren playing the "ame acti(ity or #ith "imilar material" )e"ide each
other, )ut not tal,ing or interacting #ith one another$
A""ociati(echildren playing #ith each other, "haring "imilar material" and
acti(itie" in an unorgani4ed #ay$
Cooperati(echildren #or,ing together and interacting, to play or create "omething in
an organi4ed and purpo"eful #ay$ %here are al"o "tage" of comple5ity of play$ %he .r"t
"tage of play i" "imple "en"ory e5ploration manipulation of the play material, "uch a"
"cri))ling #ith crayon", pouring #ater and "and, or ringing a )ell$ A" children )egin to
tran"form and in(ent o)6ect" and rule", they are engaged in "ym)olic play$ !or in"tance,
a child may cro"" t#o )loc," to ma,e the letter &%' or o/er playdough &tortilla"' to
another child$ A" children )ecome more pro.cient #ith language, they )egin to
"u)"titute #ord" for action" and material"$ %hey play cooperati(ely and )ecome
intere"ted in formal game" #ith peer"$
How does play help children grow?
Childrens cognitive skills are enhanced. %hrough play children learn a)out
concept", ho# to group and cla""ify o)6ect", ho# to ma,e "en"e of thing" and e(ent",
and ho# to "ol(e pro)lem"$ Play often in(ol(e" trial and error, and pro)lem7"ol(ing
ta","$ Play re3uire" a child to ma,e choice", direct acti(itie", and ma,e plan" to reach a
goal$
Children develop motor skills. %hrough play, children de(elop control and
coordination of mu"cle" that are needed to #al,, ,ic,, eat or #rite$ 8ro"" motor ",ill"
can )e enhanced #hen a toddler pu"he" a toy grocery cart or an older child play"
hop"cotch$ !ine motor and manipulation ",ill" are de(eloped #hen pre"chooler" u"e
their .nger" to "tring cheerio" for a nec,lace or toddler" "cri))le #ith a crayon on
paper$ -hen thro#ing and catching a )all, children are practicing hand7eye coordination
and their a)ility to gra"p$ -hen children ,ic, a )all acro"" the room, they are practicing
coordination and de(eloping large mu"cle control, tone and 9e5i)ility$
Children enhance language skills. %al,ing, "inging, rhyming, and #ord play help
them to ma"ter the rule" and "ound" of language #hile they ha(e fun$
Children gain social and emotional skills. Play de(elop" imagination and creati(ity
and gi(e" children practice in "ocial ",ill" "uch a" #aiting, negotiating, ta,ing turn",
cooperation, compromi"e, "haring and e5pre""ing emotion"$ A" children learn a)out
them"el(e" and the #orld, they ac3uire "elf7con.dence, "elf7reliance and "elf7
e5pre""ion$
Tips for encouraging play
Allo# children plenty of time and opportunitie" for )oth free and directed play$
A(oid o/ering play a" a re#ard$
:e"pect that children ha(e their o#n uni3ue and indi(idual "tyle" and
approache" to learning and playing$
Allo# children plenty of room for "afe e5ploration and play #ith limited
re"triction"$ Arrange de.nite play "pace" )oth in"ide and out"ide$
Pro(ide a (ariety of intere"ting and "afe material" and acti(itie" ranging from
"imple to comple50 toy", art and #riting "upplie", )oo,", mu"ical in"trument", dre""7
up clothe", pu44le", game"$ Play material" do not ha(e to )e ela)orate or e5pen"i(e,
)ut they need to )e de(elopmentally appropriate ;intere"ting and challenging )ut
not too di<cult=$
A(oid o(er"timulating children, particularly infant"$ *nfant" #ill "ignal #hen they
ha(e had enough "timulation )y crying or loo,ing a#ay$
8i(e children clear limit" through #hat you "ay, ho# you arrange the room and
#hat material" you ma,e a(aila)le to them$
Pro(ide "pace for children to play 3uietly and pri(ately a#ay from noi"ier
acti(itie"$ %he area "hould include a rug or carpet, "oft pillo#", child7"i4ed
uphol"tered furniture, etc$
:otate toy" and material" regularly to ,eep children intere"ted$
2)"er(e children and li"ten 3uietly a" they play$ >otice their li,e", di"li,e" and
intere"t"$ Pay attention to toy" and material" that encourage u"e of the imagination$
1caled7do#n adult o)6ect" are often good toy" for children$
?ncourage children to tal, a)out #hat they are doing and ho# they feel$
*ntroduce ne# #ord" to e5pand their (oca)ulary$ @ocument and ta,e dictation of
#hat they "ay$
8et do#n on the children+" le(el and 6oin in their play occa"ionally$ :e"pond to
their play #ith encouragement a" a #ay to help them ta,e pride in their play and
moti(ate them to play more$ >e(er ma,e fun of children+" play$
1hare #ith parent"Afamilie" #hat you notice a)out their child+" play$
?ncourage parent" to dre"" children in #a"ha)le clothe" and "turdy "hoe"$
Safety first
It is important to follow basic safety guidelines to reduce the chance that children will
be injured during play. This includes providing children with access to safe toys,
materials and environments. The following documents from the California Childcare
Health Program can assist you:
*ndoor and 2utdoor ?n(ironment" 1afety Chec,li"t
Po""i)le Cho,ing and 1u/ocation Ha4ard" Po"ter
1afe Playground Ha)it" Po"ter
%oy 1afety Chec,li"t
Resources
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for nfants! Toddlers and "amilies has several
documents on tips about play for families and caregivers to download or order, including
The Power of Play!earning Through Play from "irth to Three. #vailable online at
www.$erotothree.org%play%more.html
#la$ing for %eeps has compiled a recommended list of boo&s about play, ranging from
theory, suggested play activities, children's stories about play, early childhood educators
and parenting resources, etc. #vailable online at:
http:%%playingfor&eeps.org%site%library()*.html
+egal, ,. -*../0. 1our Child at Play: "irth to 2ne 1ear. 3nd ed. 1our Child at Play +eries
4also available: 2ne to Two5 Two to Three 1ears5 Three to 6ive 1ears5 6ive to 7ight
1ears.8 9ew 1or&: 9ewmar&et Press.
References
Perry, "., Hogan, !., ,arlin, +. Curiosity, Pleasure and Play: # 9eurodevelopmental
Perspective. Haaeyc #dvocate, :une *;, 3))).
www.childtrauma.org%ctamaterials%Curiosity.asp.
<orale&, =. -3))>0. +potlight on 1oung Children and Play. 9ational #ssociation for the
7ducation of 1oung Children. ?ashington, =.C.