Why should kids play?
Every educationist and
educational philosopher has advocated the need for hands on play based
learning. Our own Mahatma Gandhi who devised the 3 H method of education which
involves the Hand, Heart and Head or good old Montessori who believed that play
involves all the three aspects essential for learning, namely- the muscles,
senses and the brain.
So here are 10 ‘brainy’
reasons based on brain research on why children should play:
- Touching, feeling, exploring, making, breaking are all activities that enrich the senses and this helps new synapses develop in the brain.
- Free play or play that involves choices, logic and thinking helps enhance the frontal lobe.
- The hand and the brain need each other- brain expert Wilson states that neurologically, "a hand is always in search of a brain and a brain is in search of a hand".
- Use of the hands to manipulate three-dimensional objects is an essential part of brain development.
- Imaginative play and role play are part of symbolic play. Symbolic play is when a child can use a symbol or object to represent another item. For example he uses a piece of block to be a telephone, etc. When a child is able to experience symbolic play he will definitely be able to excel in reading and writing activities as reading is nothing but representing a picture or word in a symbol (all letters and words are symbols)
- All play should make kids enjoy, as positive emotions enhance memory and no play should be stressful or too competitive as our bodies release harmful chemicals under stress, these chemicals are not good for the brain.
- Play that is self initiated, involving trial and error, problem solving, has cause and effect is good for developing neural pathways.
- Play helps develop language skills as more the sensorial experiences the child has, the more the child will want to talk about it and hence language development will be enhanced.
- Memory increases by revisiting information frequently. Play often, as children like to play the same games every day. It is fine as long as the interest lasts.
- Cross lateral movements keep both sides of the brain working. Therefore, the more creeping, crawling, marching play activities the child is exposed to, the better for his brain – How? Cross laterals are arm and leg movements that cross over from one side of the body to the other. Since, left side of the brain controls right side of the body and vice versa, the two sides are forced to communicate when legs and arms cross over.
6 comments:
The most important skills that children everywhere must learn in order to live happy and productive are learned and practised by them in play. These include the abilities to think creatively, to get along with other people and cooperate effectively, and to control their own impulses and emotions.
All young children are creative. In their play and self-directed exploration they create their own mental models of the world around them and also models of imaginary worlds.
Albert Einstein said his schooling almost destroyed his interest in mathematics and physics, but he recovered it when he left school. He referred to his innovative work as “combinatorial play”.
We can’t teach creativity, but we can drive it out of people through schooling.
Wonderful ideas for parents given in the article to try out with their little ones and make their childhood full of learning through 'PLAY'.
The most important part of a child's overall development is play. It helps to enhance their language, social, logical skills, memory and helps in smooth functioning of both the parts of the brain.
Wonderful guidelines for the parents to understand not only academics but play, plays an important part in their child's overall development.
Play plays so important role in childrens life......and its necessary for overall development of child. Thank you ma`am for wonderful guideline. Through this article actually I remembered those days when I observed some parents were not allowing their kids to play according to them it was useless thig but now I am confident to explain such type of parents that the importance of play and how overall it develops the child.
"PLAY" plays a important and vital roll in child's learning. It makes new pathways connection in brain.
Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as well as social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.
Play is needed for healthy development for your child. Research shows that 75 percent of brain development occurs after birth.
As a adult we must take initiative and spread it and educate parents about the importance of PLAY in child's life.
Thank you ma'am for giving wonderful guidance.
According to George Bernard Shaw - “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
As 10 Brainy reasons are given here 'Why Kids Should Play?' maybe after reading this article every reader had missed at least once 'PLAY' of her/his childhood.
Play is the work of childhood.Play makes children happy.10 ways are really good why children should play.Thank you for sharing always something new.
Post a Comment