Why Is Play Important For A Child's Development?

One of the main occupations that children actively participate in is play. Play shapes development for more mature skills later in life based on resources, environment, opportunities, parenting style, and many other factors. Without play, children are often delayed in the development of their skills and not able to fully integrate reflexes or reach developmental milestones within a normal time frame. Play is essential for a child’s development because it allows for the child to explore their environment, social roles and rules, problem solving, creativity, language, and their own physical abilities (Case-Smith & O’Brien, 2015). Children are able to test out different ideas in a safe and non-judgmental environment, allowing them to build foundations for
Children learn through watching adults and other kids so by modeling strategies to regulate one’s self, children can pick up on these strategies apply them to their own life. Scaffolding is a technique where an adult sees the strategies that the child is using or attempting to use and the adult helps the child to change their approach or take it farther so the child can be successful. This can also help to develop critical thinking skills if the child is old enough to reflect on what other people are doing and what they themselves are doing. Setting realistic expectations gives children structure and boundaries so over time they learn how they should act in specific situations and it becomes an automatic behavior. In the classroom, opportunities for growth in regulation are present throughout each day and with teachers to guide them, the previous three strategies can be put in place. School provides a variety of structures for kids to explore different interactions with peers and teachers whether it is during an activity, circle time, or free