Introducing play is an important part of your child’s development, especially during their early years. While playtime usually consists of fun activities, there are plenty of behavioural, social and psychomotor rewards that come with it. Besides building cognitive, social and psychomotor skills, engaging in play regularly can encourage children to communicate emotions and express themselves confidently.
Why Is Play Beneficial For Children?
Play is a fundamental part of learning and inspires children to learn new skills along the way. Play sessions can include LEGO blocks or dolls, and encourage children to independently tap on their imagination, thoughts and feelings. Decisions during play are made without inhibitions or fear of failure and guide them to gain independence whilst building self-confidence. Play that involves imagination and fantasy is a child’s natural medium of self-expression, allowing you to gain an insight into their conscious and subconscious minds. During playtime, you grow to learn about your child’s likes and dislikes.
The Different Types of Play For Child Development
There are various methods and types of play-based learning that can enhance your child’s developmental process, and actively engage their mind. There can be several similar methods and genres of play, and some can be explored at the same time within a single activity. These categories of play include:
1. Cooperative Play
Cooperative Play involves socialising and interacting with other children. It encourages teamwork and social skills – children learn how to take turns, share and communicate their opinions with their peers. Cooperative Play ranges from a simple game of soccer to building a sandcastle or creating a landscape with building blocks. These activities are perfect as they require children to communicate with their peers during the game and collaboratively work towards a common goal.
2. Independent Play
Independent Play differs from Cooperative Play where children will be free to play independently with items and objects. It is the most preferred type of play for toddlers at the age of two to three years old as they might still be too shy to interact with other children during their early years or have not built up the social skills required to play with another toddler.
With Independent Play, children learn how to be self-reliant as they make their own decisions while playing. Once they learn decision making skills, they gradually build confidence to interact with others and express their feelings. An imaginative and creative mind can be nurtured through Independent Play activities such as sketching, reading and playing with blocks.
3. Crafted Play™
Crafted Play™ is a method of play developed by MindChamps, where children are provided with the freedom to explore, experience, experiment and enjoy while achieving a specific learning outcome in school. The objectives of Crafted Play™ can include numeracy, language literacy and social skills or a new understanding of a fresh topic.
With Crafted Play™, our Champs develop essential skills, confidence and build a positive emotional connection with learning. We believe that this deep and permanent connection will better prepare them for the possible setbacks or challenges that they might face in the future and allow them to focus on the fun of learning in life.
Want to find out more about how we provide children with a conducive environment for play and learning? Visit our website for the MindChamps PreSchool curriculum and pedagogy today.