Understand the Importance of Play

Everyone knows that kids love to play pretend. What some may not know is how important pretend play is to a child’s development.
An article from Kid Chenz, Benefits of Pretend Play and Why It’s Important for Child Development, talks about the wide-reaching effects of this type of play on a child’s cognitive, socio-emotional and language development.
Unfortunately, today’s children are so busy with structured activities, they have less and less time to simply play. This is troubling when you consider that pretend play goes a long way toward ensuring that a child becomes a well-rounded and happy adult.
The article offers four suggestions to encourage children to engage in pretend play:

1. Follow the child’s lead and let them decide the rules.
2. Give a child the opportunity to play on their own and with others.
3. Encourage children to use toys in new and innovative ways.
4. Talk to a child about nature and what is going on around them.

While playing is fun for kids, it also is serious business that is critical to a child’s health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, play enriches a child’s brain, body, and life in important ways.