Social Benefits of Play
• Helps a child form meaningful relationships
• Teaches communication, negotiation, cooperation and compromise
• Helps a child experience trust, friendship and love
Emotional Benefits of Play
• Helps a child express feelings, develop empathy and cope with difficult situations
• Helps a child deal with emotions and regain a sense of control
• Helps adults understand a child’s feelings
Intellectual Benefits of Play
• Provides ideas and problem-solving techniques
• Fosters curiosity, creativity and intellect
• Prepares a child for school
• Helps a child make sense of her world and function successfully in it
You play a valuable role in your child’s playtime. Here are some ideas for getting involved:
Jump right in.
Playing together right from the start helps build the foundation for trusting relationships and helps him become a happy person.
Forget the rules.
Encouraging exploration, creative play and “make believe” enhances the development of imagination.
Think like a child.
Make up games. Play with toys and safe household objects in new ways.
Let a child guide his play.
Allowing the child to pick the activity and decide how it’s played gives him confidence.
Take a break.
Playing alone gives a child time to process what she has been doing. Watch – if she is happy, leave her alone. If she seems bored, re-direct her activity.
Get involved.
Being part of your child’s play encourages his imagination and self-esteem.
Watch out for overstimulation.
Stop playing when your child has had enough – an infant will turn his head or start to fuss.
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Click here to visit our Family Resource Library. You’ll find activities and tips to help you prepare your child for life.
