How Does Play Affect the Growth & Development of Children?
Play is an important part of a child's development. Eminent developmental psychologist Jean Piaget described play as being a child's work. During play, a child practices motor skills, lingual skills and even social skills. She will reenact things she has seen and heard, turning them into elaborate games of make-believe. Because play often includes an element of pleasure, children are more likely to stay with their skills practice than if it were a required classroom exercise or a chore given by parents.
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Motor Skills
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By age 6, according to the University of Miami Health System Department of Pediatrics, your child has fully developed vision and has master many large- and small-motor skills. As she progresses through elementary school, her playtime might include skipping rope, racing, bouncing a ball, hitting a ball with a bat and even gymnastics. these games help with large-motor development. Complicated interactive hand plays and tabletop games such as jacks, drawing and coloring help with small-motor coordination, as does manipulating an electronic device.
Linguistic Development
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Your child should be able to create complete sentences and carry a moderately reasonable conversation by age 6, according to the American Speech-Language Association. Talking with her friends, to her toys and even reciting silly rhymes or singing songs provides the needed practice in saying words, translating thoughts into language and beginning the work of decoding written language. Rituals of play, such as jump rope rhymes, counting out chants and words that go with a particular game become part of her social fabric.
Social Development
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Peer acceptance is important to school age children. Through play, they learn important skills such as taking turns, negotiating disagreements and even controlling their emotions when they are disappointed by the way a game turns out. During this time, your child will learn how to be a friend, how to deal with bullies and how not to be one. Participating in play with others provides a safe environment for practice.
Role-Playing
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One of the tenants of Montessori education is that if you provide children with child-sized implements, they practice adult-sized skills. A teacher, listening to a group of kindergartners playing in the kitchen section of the classroom was amused to hear one little girl tell the stuffed bear, "Eat your vegetables, they are good for you." Her playmate, retorted, "I'm the dad. I can eat whatever I want to." The little "mama" angrily reminded him that vegetables were good for him, too. The teacher had to intervene before the argument escalated, while trying hard not to laugh. Through play, children try out roles before they must apply them as adults.
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Since children look to their caregivers as role models, caregivers should be responsible and professional. By developing and following a personal code of ethics, child care providers can help ensure that they are doing their best to provide an atmosp