Importance of Play in Child Development. 

Children play a vital role in their mental development. Dissimilar to the popular belief, the Canadian Council of learning says that the kids do not play to amuse themselves. They are just building their brains through it.

When the kids are playing, they are creating the foundation for their intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills. Via plays, the kids are unconsciously preparing themselves to succeed in school and life as well.

• Stacking blocks and mixing sand and water develops mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, and cognitive problem-solving. Perhaps this is how they could develop general knowledge.
• Rough and tumble play, tackling, and wrestling develop social and emotional self-regulation. This becomes vitally important in developing competence in boys.
• Imaginative play develops creativity and flexibility. The kids are building their brains when they pretend to build houses from pillows.
• Games which require pretending, particularly with friends, promote conversation skills, and problem-solving skills. This is how good negotiators are made.

When the kids play with other kids, they learn to mingle ideas, impressions, and thoughts with the opinions and experiences of fellow kids. Kids have a different idea about the world, and they eventually share them. They create a culture and society with their playmates.

The presence of a caring adult could enhance the playtime of children.

Parents should devote an hour as often as they could each week to spend some quality playtime with their kids and do exactly what their kids want them to do. The child leads the playtime, and the parents have to follow them. Or if they want them to play the baby and the kids themselves play the mommy, parents should do it. The presence of an elderly figure enables another level of meaningful play to happen. The child might use their attention to simplify a tough situation with a friend, re-enact a doctor’s visit, or try something new and challenging, like walking on a balance beam.

Parents might also want to help guide their kids to play while on the playground. Of course, all parents want their children to move in the direction of associative and cooperative play, but that takes time. Children’s play is a precious opportunity for the child’s development, like learning new concepts and how to interact with others. Adults could follow a child’s lead or offer gentle guidance, but the play is at its most vibrant when children are in charge.