For young children, play is a key way to learn, grow, and interact with the world around them on their own terms. While play is often little ones’ favorite pastime, it’s also an important component of their early childhood development, and sets the scene for many of the skills they need to grow into healthy, functioning adults!
Physical Benefits
One of the great benefits of play is that it empowers your children to move their bodies, live an active lifestyle, and enjoy the outdoors! Running, climbing, dancing, or even crawling build resiliency and cultivate curiosity, not to mention fostering muscle growth, balance, and coordination.
More importantly, play also stimulates the brain, and is actually one of the best ways for children to learn! Games, challenges, scavenger hunts, and more help children practice problem-solving skills, learn cooperation with their peers, and express their creativity.
Social Development
Play is also an amazing and productive way for children to form connections with each other and start to learn the basics of peer relationships, even as toddlers! Games and group activities with other children help to nurture social skills like taking turns, sharing, and even conflict resolution. For children just starting to learn emotional regulation, play can also help build patience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of each other’s feelings and perspectives.
Cultivating Spiritual Growth
As a Christian early childhood learning center, Heaven’s Elect knows that many parents are passionate about fostering their little one’s spiritual development alongside their physical, cognitive, and social development. Play can be a good way to also introduce faith concepts, such as acting out bible stories or singing religious songs together. In this way, children can begin to make spirituality not just a regular part of their daily life, but a fun and engaging component of their day.
Here at Heaven’s Elect, we’re passionate about empowering our students to be the best versions of themselves, and that includes plenty of playtime! Through play, children entrusted to our care are equipped with the tools, lessons, and skills necessary to engage deeper with their peers, their faith, and their communities.