what is the importance of play in children's development?

Answer 1

Play is so important as it is active self directed learning and also social learning.
It is the most important learning there is!!!!!!!!!
It is how animals learn everything, think about it, they dont have 'lessons' :-)
as well as cognitive and social, they can also learn emotional strategies:
see link
http://www.outlands.demon.co.uk/playtherapy/

Answer 2

I worte a paper on this a year ago for an ECE course.
Here are some quotes from my paper.
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." - Mr. Rogers.

"Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space where she can experience at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and social reality. In play, the child becomes the master rather than the subject. Play allows the child to transcend passivity and to become the active 'doer' of what happens around her."

Play helps developmentally, it teaches children self esteem, to get along with others and to learn by their surroundings by exploring and discovering. There are social benefits as well with children playing with other children they learn emergant language skills, which are important in developing reading and writing skills. Children learn to be creative as well.
Children who play together with other children will, in the future, be able to except other people's views and will have a better understanding of other peoples values and culture. (things like that).
In "pretend" children learn: new words, sharing, how it feels to be someone else, hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills. ...what I am trying to say is that a lot of people don't understand the true value of play. It is an essential part of child development, just think what it would be like if none of us ever had the opportunity to learn what we have through play

Answer 3

Essential. Children learn most through play at an early age - language, social skills, etc. Sitting with your child for an hour each day will benifit them far more in the long run that 3 hours glued to the tv. They need human interaction to set themselves up for the real world.

Answer 4

Oh, plenty. Here's a few:
1. Facilitates motor development (rough and fine) and coordination.
2. Facilitates socialization.
3. Initiates the development of problem-solving skills.
4. Enables the development of exploratory skills.

Answer 5

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is taught in schools for children. So it is clear that play is very important for any child's development!!

Answer 6

Play comprises most of their development especially in coordination, mental stimulation begining with textures and colours and then progressing to quantiites and imaginative play which in turn teaches consequence etc. Also not to mention being physically active. Lack of this stimulation would definately impact on physical health development and mental development.

Answer 7

Boys eg are usually less co-ordinated than girls so lots of hand eye foot co-ordination will make them less awkward this is only one example of the importance of play the general conception is play makes or should make learning fun even in a supermarket they learn you can't buy everything you see so you learn selection

Answer 8

Extremely

Answer 9

It teaches them how to interact with others, to share their skills with others and learn from others, also they use there imagination and build life skills, play is an important part of growing up.

Answer 10

very important every child needs the quality time and it is important for a child to develop in every area.