Why is Play important for Child’s Development?

Why is Play important for Child’s Development?

Play is an essential and critical part of all children’s development. Play starts in the child’s infancy and ideally, continues throughout his or her life. Play is how children learn to socialize, to think, to solve problems, to mature and most importantly, to have fun. Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their parents and family and the world. Play is an activity where children show their remarkable ability for exploration, imagination and decision making. While play is often described as ‘children’s work’, it is intensely enjoyable for them.

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” – Lucia Capocchione.

Benefits of play for children-

• Play is extremely essential to make life healthy and happy. It also helps in proper blood circulation. The unutilized surplus energy which creates irritation, anxiety and tension, nervous instability in child is spent and channelized through play.
• Play is most useful in expressing ones emotion in a socially acceptable manner. Certain negative emotions like anger, fear and jealousy etc. which cannot be pointed towards friends, relatives and family members due to social restrictions can be released through play.
• The role of play is extremely useful in the moral development of the child. To accept different moral standards, play helps a lot. The child learns from play itself that in order to be a member of the group and society; he has to be honest, sincere and truthful.
• Play has a great educational value. Through play the child is able to know the shape, size and colour of different objects and their uses as well.
• The desire for creativity is encouraged by play. By using different objects while playing the creative ability of the child increases. His vocabulary increases while playing with others.
• Children make their own decisions during play; they begin to make connections between their choices and the natural consequences of those choices.
• Play supports the development of self-control which is critical for success in later life.

Side effects of not playing-

Playing is a brain-building activity. It causes neurons in your child’s brain to build connections, impacting all areas of development: language, motor, and social skills. However, a lack of play can have negative and long lasting effects. Studies show that when kids don’t have the opportunity to play, they are at high risk for attention problems and behaviour problems. A 2018 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics also found the absence of play can increase stress. “Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”- Kay Redfield Jamison.

A good reminder for all the parents, do not neglect play, that is pivotal for your child’s development. So, when you tell a child, “Go play” you are really telling them to go learn – and grow!

Dr. Nisha Kumari

Assistant Professor

Department of Home Science

Patna Women’s College (Autonomous)

Patna University