Child Play Development And Learning Through Play Beats Depression

Child play development happens because children are
continually learning through play and this leads to the
growth and maturation of their brains and bodies.

It's been said that the work of children is play or,
perhaps, to be more exact, learning through play. Play is
such a part and parcel of a child's life that childhood is,
virtually, defined by the dominance of play.

Child play development is the development of the child
through play.

So, why does the massive capacity for play dominate
childhood? Many believe the greatest part of human learning
is completed by age five. It may be that play is a
spontaneous activity, commenced by the child's brain, to
initiate early childhood learning. Through play the brain
associates learning with fun, causing the child to continue
playing more and, therefore, learning more.
This is child play development.

Play is the opposite of depression.

Learning and play, at this stage of life, are
indistinguishable. In fact, it seems that learning is play,
and play is learning.

Hence, child play development is tantamount to child
learning development.

Learning through play in childhood is independent of
outside rules or influences. It is characterized by only
the inner wishes of the child, and these can be changed at
will. Hence, it is creative, imaginative and, always,
fun. The creativity and imagination of childhood play can
lead some to be authors and artists. Such people often
consider their work play and seek to perform it for its
sheer joy. This may be the ultimate in child play
development.

The importance of learning in child play development is
illustrated as follows. Through playing with their hands
and feet babies learn what they are, where they are, and
who they belong to. By kicking their feet and shaking
their hands they learn how to control their body. Through
running and whirling around, children learn how to control
and move their bodies in space. By reaching and grasping
for a spoon and the moon, they learn about distances and
what is possible and impossible.

Hence, child play development is an ongoing process.

By the third year, child play development becomes more
imaginative. Anything lying around becomes a fantasy toy.
They play horsy with a broom stick and fantasize hopping
over tiles on the floor like a bunny. Virtually all
children's play is characterized by intense mental and
physical activity.

For preschoolers child play development involves
pretending, exploring objects, arranging them in order and
building with them.

In imitative play, children act out everything around them,
including their own feelings of anxiety about a reported
earthquake, mother's anger about having to pick up the toys
spread about the house, or dad's "words" after hitting his
finger with the hammer, etc.

Points for parents to ponder, regarding child play
development:


  • Excess television, computer and video game engagement
    (more than one to two hours per day) is associated with
    decreased grades, lowered attention span, aggression and
    obesity.

  • Think about how children's brains, compared to adult
    brains, are like sponges, absorbing and learning,
    virtually, everything they see and hear. Note how these
    technological media cause normally vivacious, energetic
    children to remain physically inactive for hours. Then
    decide how much TV, computer and video game exposure
    your children should have.

  • The opposite of depression is play.


Points for parenting consideration that promote child play
development are the following:


  1. It aids learning more to feel, touch and manipulate an
    object, like squeezing a rubber ball or putting marbles in a
    can, than to see it through a computer screen.

  2. The intense physical activity, which characterizes
    childhood, builds muscle, increases dexterity, improves
    mood, and uses up the excess energy of childhood, helping
    children relax.

  3. The intense mental activity and learning of childhood is
    generated by the fun of play. This form of learning through
    play is highly varied and unstructured, unlike formal, education.

  4. Play often gets children outside where they can enjoy
    nature and receive sunlight that influences hormones
    vitamins and mood positively.

  5. Play allows children to act out and vent their feelings
    which improves their mood and gives parents the opportunity
    to determine how they are feeling. Furthermore, by learning
    through play and acting out their feelings, children learn
    to cope with feelings.

  6. If human brains are created to learn by associating
    learning with fun, play in other words, should not good
    parenting strive to make learning fun too?


Some recommendations for child play development that beat
depression and stimulate learning are:


  1. Child proof your house so your child can be free to play.

  2. Create low lying play areas with household objects in
    each area of the house since young children follow parents.
    The kitchen area could have bowls, pots, pans, wooden
    spoons, etc. Don't forget the sandbox.

  3. Find or make old fashioned toys that allow for
    imagination. For example, dolls and other figures without
    faces, stand-up dolls made of felt or wool, etc.

  4. Take your child outdoors and collect objects from nature
    for play, like branches, pieces of bark (among other things,
    these can be used as blocks), etc.

  5. Encourage your child to play in nature by buying
    raincoats and other gear. There is nothing more fun than
    kids playing in the rain.

  6. Turn off the TV for it interferes with the imagination
    and family cohesiveness. Try reading stories, star gazing,
    or going for short walks after dinner. Use your
    imagination to discover things to do and they will use
    theirs.

  7. Invite other children over to play.

  8. Look for schools that don't push structured academic
    learning. Interest in learning to read increases at around
    five for children who have not been taught to read earlier.

  9. Value play over early academic programs that force kids
    out of the natural world of play before they are ready.


For information, concerning child play development, click here.


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