Apart from good nutrition and sleep, a child needs to 'play'. It's through play that a child sets on a road to discovery and learning, not just about the world but also about themselves. It's so significant that even the United Nations recognizes 'play' as a right of every child.
Children need to understand their distinct needs and learn about how they wish to interact with the world. Be it indoors or outdoors, amidst nature or with open-ended toys, with other children or by themselves, play helps children’s physical, social, cognitive and emotional development.
When a child requests to play a game - he sharpens his communication skills. Following rules in a game improves a child's understanding of how structure works. Pretending to be a teacher or a doctor, enacting and re-enacting different situations, leads to self expression and contributes to the child's emotional development.
Our children are privileged to enjoy their early years; let's help them make the most of it by recognizing the different ways our children can make the most of their play time. Free Play: A time to explore, discover and express themselves Purposeful Work: Engaging in 'real work' to learn real life skills Did you see the sky today? Taking every opportunity to play outdoors Soft toys, cuddly toys, toys that unleash a child's imagination