Children Playing - Significant beyond Words!
When you see a group of children playing, there is a great deal more
going on than you probably realize. And whether it’s your own child or
other children that you are observing, there will be plenty there for
you to learn from about the way children’s minds work and just what it
is that make them tick - all of which comes through from their play
habits.
Going with instinct
For children, playing comes naturally - it’s an activity that is fun and
helps them connect with each other. Play can also take many forms and is
not necessarily restricted to organized activity. It’s important to bear
in mind that children playing together learn a great deal from each
other, which contributes significantly to their development.
Driven by a spirit of discovery
Beginning from the time when they are babies and toddlers, children are
driven by a natural curiosity that must be nurtured. Children playing
outdoors are introduced to a variety of equipment, toys etc. This is
important from the point of view of broadening their horizons and
increasing the range of the skills that they pick up through play.
Branching out
Children playing with writing materials enter into a new world - one in
which they discover the skills of reading and writing which further
develops the skills they are constantly acquiring. For children, playing
must remain fun and parents should ensure that play activities are never
forced. Should this happen, the immense value that children derive from
this pleasurable activity will be lost; so also will the purpose that is
intended to enrich their lives.
Playing safe
Children playing must be allowed to take charge and proceed the way it
suits them best. They must also be given initial directions when it
comes to using new equipment, toys etc. and then be left to figure out
how to go forward on their own. They may even end up teaching you (or
their parents) a thing or two!!
Never too late!!
When you see children playing, it’s important to remember that they are
not the only ones who are learning - you are, too. You are getting a
peek into a world that is so far removed from your own adult world of
responsibilities and pressures. So why not relax and let them go at
their own pace?
An opportunity for evaluation
Children playing must also be carefully observed so that you can get an
appreciation of the manner in which they master new skills. Even if
there is an established way of carrying out a particular task, do give
your child or children the pleasure of showing you their own unique and
perhaps new way of doing whatever it is they have decided to
demonstrate. When you find that they have picked up a new skill, do
encourage them to repeat the activity so that they can perfect it.
Guidance is vital
And as they proceed to expand their limits, do remember that children
playing outdoors must be properly guided to deal with the rough and
tumble they are going to come up against. This is particularly important
for toddlers, who learn a great deal from the world outside their homes,
but may not be fully equipped to deal with all that they may encounter.
Long term benefits
At the same time, the value of children playing outdoors is immense, as
the exposure to the outside world has an important influence on their
brains, in which new connections are constantly being formed. It is
these connections that lay the foundation for effective learning in
later life, from the social, educational and emotional standpoints.
There may also be differences in the way children play, depending on
whether they are boys or girls. However, there’s no dearth of ideas,
from doll’s houses to trucks and Lorries, and children playing with a
diverse range of toys can learn plenty in the process. So why not leave
them to realize their dreams and discover their strengths? Their lives
depend on it…
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