Why is Play Important?

Why is Play Important?

Running around as superheroes, jumping from rock to rock, colouring in their favourite pictures and feeding the toy doll a bottle. What do all of these activities have in common? They are some typical play activities that children enjoy exploring! Play comes in many forms and is a right that all children have; to participate in and explore play. Play is crucial for child development and is an integral part of children’s lives and how they learn. Play gives children the opportunity to gain new skills and understandings that can’t be taught, only when experienced in play. 

In early childhood education, we often talk about learning through play and great emphasis is placed upon why play is so important. But what is so important about play? 

• Fosters creativity and imagination: Play gives children the opportunity to explore their creativity and express their ideas. It allows children to explore their own concepts and create their own rules. 
• Builds upon communication skills: Play supports children to develop their language skills and provides children with opportunity to engage in shared interactions. 
• Develops their self-esteem and confidence: Play allows children to become more confident in expressing their views and learn how to share these views with others. It supports their sense of achievement. 
• Promotes social and emotional wellbeing: Play fosters the development of shared relationships and gives children the opportunity to learn how to negotiate with others. It supports children to learn how to problem solve in collaborative situations and work cooperatively with their peers. 
• Supports gross and fine motor development: Play enables children to practice these vital skills to strengthen their physical development and capabilities. 

How is play used in early childhood education? 

Learning through play is one of the practices within the Early Years Learning Framework which signifies its importance within children’s early development. Educators utilise play within their practices to build upon important and vital skills that children need to learn and develop as confident. Through play, children are able to develop and build upon their relationships with their educators. As these relationships evolve, children establish their security and bonds which allow them to learn and build upon new skills. As they become confident with their educators, children become willing participants in their learning as they open up their eagerness to learn.

Through play, educators are able to incorporate learning elements through the experience, from the conversations they engage in with the children to the social aspects of play. For example, a lego building activity may seem like piecing blocks together, but there are so many aspects of development through this simple experience; the children are able to strengthen their fine motor skills, build upon their colour recognition skills through the various colours that they see as well as express their creativity through the incredible creations that they make!

Play is a vital aspect of children’s development, necessary for their growth and understanding. Most importantly, play brings so much joy and happiness to children, and sparks FUN! 

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