Young Children Need to Play!

Play is children’s work. Children work hard at their play because they can make it up themselves. The best part about children’s play is that they learn a great deal while having fun. Here are some things to keep in mind about play.

Play can be any spontaneous activity that is fun.

Spontaneous play occurs when children do an activity freely. If children organize a ball game, dramatic play, or a game of hide-and-seek, they are meeting their needs for spontaneous play. Spontaneous play is different from enrolling children in little league or signing them up for dance lessons. Children benefit most from a balance of activities adults plan and lead and activities that children plan and lead on their own.

Play can be an effective and enjoyable way for children to develop skills.

• Language skills grow when they play name games, sing songs, and recite jump rope rhymes.
• Thinking skills grow when they construct a block tower, follow directions to a game, and figure out pieces to a puzzle.
• Small-muscle skills grow when they string beads, make clay figures, and cut with scissors.
• Large-muscle skills grow when they play ball, ride a scooter, and run relay races.
• Creative skills grow when they make up stories, put on a puppet show, and play with dress-ups.
• Social skills grow when they team up to play ball games, discuss rules for a card game, and decide who will play what part in dramatic play.

It is important to remove barriers to children’s opportunities to play, such as:

• Too many structured activities. When their lives are overscheduled with activities, sports, and lessons, children do not have time to themselves and for unstructured play.
• Too much screen time. When children watch too much television or movies, their play often mimics what they see on the screen. Time spent using devices would be better spent playing.

If a child says, “I’m bored,” they may need more unstructured time for play.

Parents often hear children complain about boredom when activities are not scheduled for them. Children need down time and time to be alone. These are the occasions when children’s imagination and creativity take hold. These are the times when children experience the full benefits of play.

IEL Resources

• Resource List: Children’s Play: More than Fun and Games