What is the role of play in child development?

1. Play develop a child’s imagination.

                 Every time a child takes a scarf and declares it a witch’s cape or says “I am the Mum, you’re the Dad, and you’re the Baby” as she sets out teacups and saucers for her stuffed animals or floats a popsicle-stick boat down a stream, he or she is learning.

                  Play, especially the kinds that involve make-believe, stretches a child’s imagination. Whenever a child creates stories around the roles he or she creates for them self or their playmate, they’re learning to think and create in abstract methods, in ways beyond their world

2.Play develops communication and social skills

               Play allows for many opportunities to develop language, speech, and vocabulary. Whether they play alone, making up characters or pretending to be a superhero, or play with others, children do a lot of talking and listening while playing.

              Play also provides opportunities for social interactions and social skills. The more children are engaged in play, the more interactions they form and the better the quality of these interactions become.

During play, children learn how to be part of a group, to lead, to follow instructions, to negotiate, and to share – essential skills that will determine future academic performance and life satisfaction.

3.Build confidence

4.Feel loved, happy and safe. 

5.Develop social skills, language and communication.

6.Learn about caring for others and the environment.

7.Develop physical skills.

              Both structured and unstructured play important role in child development.

Different types of play plays different roles in child development 

                          Unstructured, free play is the best type of play for young children.

This is play that just happens, depending on what takes your child’s interest at the time. Free play isn’t planned and lets your child use his imagination and move at his own pace.

Examples of unstructured play might be:

• creative play alone or with others, including artistic or musical games
• imaginative games – for example, making cubby houses with boxes or blankets, dressing up or playing make-believe
• exploring new or favourite play spaces like cupboards, backyards, parks, playgrounds and so on.

You can be part of your child’s unstructured play – or not. Sometimes all you’ll need to do is point her in the right direction – towards the jumble of dress-ups and toys on her floor, or to the table with crayons and paper. Sometimes you might need to be a bit more active. For example, ‘How about we play dress-ups? What do you want to be today?’.

Structured play is different. It’s more organised and happens at a fixed time or in a set space, and is often led by a grown-up.

Examples of structured play include:

• water familiarisation classes for toddlers, or swimming lessons for older children – you might see these as important lessons for your child, but he might just think they’re fun
• storytelling groups for toddlers and preschoolers at the local library
• dance, music or drama classes for children of all ages
• family board or card games.  

                          So in the end  we can say playing is very important for every child development