Why Play and Socialising is So Important for Children

When we think about play and playdates, we think of children making a lot of noise and a lot more mess, but play is so much more than using toys and running around a playground. ‘Play’ is also an important skill that has a key role in a child’s development, helping contribute to cognitive, social, physical and emotional well-being.

When children are encouraged and free to play, they  use a range of skills, increase their imagination and creativity and build physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Play helps It develop so many functional skills such as improving the grip in their hands, decision making, language skills, confidence and bravery.

It’s easy to see that children playing a game are practising skills, discovering areas of interests and increasing physical activity levels. But when children play, they are also exploring and conquering fears, learning to work in groups, to share, negotiate, resolve conflicts and learn self-advocacy skills. This can also help children improve   other skills such as being ready for school, understanding their emotions and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, unstructured playtime allows children to develop incredible skills that help them to grow into confident and self-assured children.

A Closer Look at ‘Play’

The five key stages of play are:

Onlooker play – watching and observing (0 – 1 years).

Solitary play – playing by themselves (1 – 2 years).

Parallel play – playing near others but not engaging with others (between 2 – 3 years).

Associative play – playing with others but sometimes playing by themselves (between 3 – 4 years old).

Cooperative play – playing with others and will not continue to play without a partner (above 4 years old).

Different types of play can include:

Functional play – investigation of how common objects work and are used.

Construction play – building things with objects.

Game play with rules – board games that have a clear set of rules for playing.

Outdoor and movement play – activities that involve physical movement.

Symbolic, dramatic and pretend play – common activities done in everyday life as play. 

How Playtime Can Help Parents

As parents and caregivers, just observing a child at play gives us an opportunity to see the world from a child’s perspective. It’s a fantastic aid to building enduring relationships and enhancing communication skills with your child.

Even though we believe the best type of play is spontaneous and unstructured, we know children progress through ‘play milestones’ in the same way as babies sit, then crawl then walk.  If you child’s play is not increasing in complexity or they are ‘stuck’ in a repetition of a particular type of play, it is worth consulting an Occupational Therapist or Speech & Language Therapist for an assessment. 

What should your role as a parent be?

The best approach is often to watch your child playing, and from this you should be able to work out how to approach and join in on the play.

Try to see what your child is looking at and what they are doing. Figure out what has got their attention. Your child will be motivated to interact with you if you join their activity instead of introducing something new or use it as a teaching opportunity. 

If you approach your child and join in the activity and try to match what your child is doing, you’ll have the most chance of success. Get down on your child’s level, face-to-face to find a playful way to join in with what your child is doing.

Your child might not like it if you start touching a toy they are already playing with. Sometimes it’s easier to sit nearby and observe quietly for a few moments. Then, you could take a part of the toy and have a quick turn with it e.g. add a block onto the tower the child is building or push one of the cars down the ramp.

This way you are joining in but not interfering too much with your child’s play.

You should allow your child to direct the action and follow their lead. Copy what they do if you’re not sure how to join in on the play. Copy and then wait to see what your child does, and then copy again. You can use this to ‘take turns’ and keep the interaction going. Use simple language to talk about the toy and the actions you are both doing.

Most importantly, have fun! If you are having fun and are acting playful when you join in with your child, it’s more likely your child will enjoy themselves and want to keep the interaction going. 

If you would like more opportunities to help your child through play and socialisation, check out our range of classes that bring a lot of fun and learning!