Play
Play is an important part of a child's development. It is spontaneous and fun! It also helps children develop:
- Motor skills — fine and gross motor
- Language and socialization skills
- Understanding of emotions
- Creativity
- Problem solving
- Self-esteem and self-importance
Stages of play:
- Unoccupied play occurs during the early months of infancy. Children make random movements, which is an initial form of play.
- Solitary play occurs from about 3-18 months. Children explore their world by watching, grabbing, and moving objects.
- Onlooker play typically occurs during toddler years. Children watch other children, but there is little effort to join the play.
- Parallel play occurs 18 months - 2 years. Children are treated alongside other children with little interaction. Role playing such as dressing up and pretending occur during this stage.
- Associative play occurs between 3-4 years of age. Children become more interested in other children. Children have similar goals, and they learn the do's and don'ts of getting along with others.
- Social play occurs around the age of 3. Children start to learn the social rules of play, such as give-and-take and cooperation.
- Constructive play develops in early infancy and continues to develop as your child grows. This starts when children put things in their mouth to see how the item feels/tastes. Children develop constructive play as they use blocks, draw/color, and play in sand. This is where children learn what works and what doesn't work.
- Cooperative play begins in the preschool years. Play is organized by group goals, and the goals of the group are governed by social rules.
