The Potential of Play: How Games For Kids Help Them Thrive
- Updated on 27 Jun 2021
- Child Learning
- Mautushi Paul
Topic Index
Introduction
There are many games for kids that play a fundamental activity for the development and learning of children. At the beginning they are simple body movements that, little by little, are expanded and made more complex to introduce other elements. Over time, these games for kids at home allow them to develop their imagination, explore their environment, express their worldview, develop their creativity, and develop social-emotional skills among peers and adults.
In this way, the game contributes to their psychomotor, cognitive and physical maturation, it also affirms the affective bond with their parents and promotes socialization. Therefore, these outdoor and indoor games for kids are one of the means with the greatest impact on children to develop new skills and concepts through their own experience.
Children spend a large part of their time playing, the type of game is modified and adapted to the age. But more than a means of fun, it is a motivating teaching activity for children.
Later, at the time of incorporation to school, games for kids are part of school and home, and it is when through play, children imitate reality, representing what they have lived or want to live, allowing themselves to externalize their emotions as joys, sadness, frustrations, etc.
As parents, it is important to encourage and participate in play activities with children, due to the fundamental role it plays in the development of children as well as the importance it plays in strengthening the effective bond between parents and children.
4 Benefits of Play to Enhance Child Development
The game is a practical and inexpensive solution
Games for kids do not require investing money everytime and are easy to incorporate into families’ daily routines. Families can promote development through simple play activities that can be done at home, with elements common to all homes. Also there are many online kids games that the whole family can enjoy.
Playing strengthens the neural connections of the little ones
Everyday games for kids between adults and babies are especially powerful for brain development. There is a moment of pure joy, generated by the interaction itself and by the pleasure that the baby’s brain experiences in learning and discovering new things. Games for kids are much more than just games, they are activities that can help childrens create bonds with their parents.
Play protects and helps cope with stressful situations
In addition to the benefits for skill development and its effects on development throughout life, play also provides a supportive context to help children cope with stress and adversity by enabling them to:
- Create imaginary events that they can control and that allow them to express negative emotions freely, improving their mood and reducing anxiety.
- Understand their experiences and find new ways to cope with difficult situations.
- Develop the ability to regulate your emotions and behavior.
Playing also benefits the adults in the family
These benefits extend to parents. It is found that 9 out of 10 parents expressed that playing with their kids helped them to experience their own happiness, and made them feel relaxed, energetic and more creative. These benefits also occur in families in adverse situations. Games for kids played at home improve adults’ abilities to deal with stress and anxiety. There are many indoor games for kids that parents can enjoy too.
7 Skills Kids Develop Through Play
Physical
Children move constantly thus developing their psychomotor coordination and gross and fine motor skills. When they move they exercise without realizing it, exercise is healthy for their whole body and generates fatigue which in turn contributes to a good sleep.
Sensory and mental development
Early stimulation exercises that encourage discrimination in shapes, sizes, colors and textures are the most entertaining way to develop intellectual capacity. Games such as puzzles, memory games or logic games improve concentration and stimulate cognitive development.
Affective
By experiencing emotions such as surprise, anticipation, or joy, children learn to know each other better. With this they learn little by little to regulate and control their emotional states, something basic for their well-being. Games for kids like “leading the blind” or “falling back” help build trust in the other person.
Remembering movie scenes or playing to impersonate puppets with different moods, make children experience emotions through the characters and make them their own.
Creativity and imagination
From the age of two onwards, children incorporate imagination into their play, along with imitation.
It is important to encourage his creativity. Scenarios such as castles or pirate ships inspire the action game that your child enjoys so much. Others like playing warehouse or acting out the professions make it easy for your imagination to run wild.
Form habits of cooperation
Encourage games where there is no competition between those who participate, promote the development of teamwork. An easy example is to gather a group of children and invite them to build a castle with boxes and / or other items reused at home.
Conclusion
Today we have extensive scientific evidence of the importance of games for kids and learning through play and a growing understanding of the benefits of play as a protective factor in stressful situations, making play a powerful strategy to help children and adults cope with the pandemic.
Also what better way to connect with the children than to descend to his level and see the world as he does? This means that we are genuinely and decisively participating in your world and that we care to understand it. This creates strong bonds and helps them develop emotional and social skills. A healthy relationship with parents is a very important foundation for their growth. This relationship lays the foundation for the infant’s personality and general behavior.
Also Read:
Top 10 Interesting and Fun Online Kids Games to Play Over Zoom
Don’t miss out on these 8 Parenting Tips During Coronavirus OutBreak
