Play time is the most important job of childhood. While it is easy to think that giving kids the opportunity to be kids is all fun and games; there is so much more to it than entertainment. The benefits of play for children provide the foundation of skills that will be used for life.
Babies begin to play around the age of 4 months, be it with their feet or with an actual baby toy. While banging a rattle around might not seem overly exciting to an adult; big things are happening in the brain of an infant with the simple act of shaking a rattle around. A world of sensory information opens up in the early stages of play. Cognitive thinking also develops through simple play as an infant.
As children grow and begin to play with a variety of objects, the benefits of play continue to develop. An understanding of friendships and social behaviors develop thru engaged group play opportunities. Children can learn empathy for others, how to take turns and begin to develop a sense of give and take. These are vital skills to develop for life.
They will have the tools to make this world a better place thru creative problem solving, opportunities to bring communities together in the name of fun and hopefully, they will continue to pass along the importance of play to future generations.
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