Why Play Time Is Important

Why Play Time Is Important for Kids

Just Children Supports Play Time for Kids

Parents know that their kids love to play, but did you know that play time is essential for the development of your children? Just Children supports kids play time and wants to help parents learn why play time is important for kids. Play time for kids can help them develop mentally, physically, and emotionally. Too much play time may not be a bad thing, but a balance is necessary. Find out how play time can be healthy for your children. We’ll explain the benefits of play time, types of play time, if playing video games is healthy, and more. Get in touch with our team today to take a tour of one of our classrooms.

The Benefits of Play Time

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” While it’s critical for kids to spend plenty of time learning in the classroom, play time is another way for them to develop essential life skills. We all want a well-rounded kid, and play time can contribute to that. Check out these benefits of play time for kids:

• Boosting Brain Power – Children who play with toys have higher IQs by the time they reach three. Letting your kids test out toys builds up their brainpower.
• Improving Creativity – Children love to imagine and create while they’re playing. Many times they don’t need any toys or materials to be creative because they use anything they can find to play with.
• Developing Language & Vocabulary – When kids play with other children, they develop essential vocabulary and language skills. Children learn to communicate with each other and express themselves while getting along with others.
• Increased Happiness – Kids love to play, whether it’s doing physical activity outside or playing with new toys indoors.
• Coping with Stress – While kids may not have as much stress as adults, learning how to deal with it early in life is critical. Play can help them rebalance stress and take advantage of fun.
• Contributing to Better Physical Health – Kids who play get more physical activity than those who don’t. They become stronger, increase their endurance, and develop greater motor skills. Physical activity will also help children sleep better at night.
• Becoming More Sociable – Play promotes a fun, non-judgmental space for children to interact with each other and develop critical social skills.
• Building Self-Confidence – Many skills can be mastered during play, from building something to physical feats like getting across the monkey bars. Kids gain confidence while developing their imagination so they can continue to face bigger challenges.
• Expressing Emotions – Play time can help kids sort out and express their emotions, including being happy, sad, or scared. It can help them take out their anger without hurting anyone and deal with their feelings.
• Exploring Passions – Many children develop their passions from experimenting, and sometimes it can lead to a career or lifelong passion. Play time gives kids a safe space to explore.

Types of Play for Kids

There are many types of play, and mixing it up can help children experience the previously mentioned benefits. Learn more about the following types of play time for kids:

• Toys & Object Play – Playing with toys or objects helps kids use their sensory-motor skills. A young child might bang an object on the floor to find out if the toy is solid. Children can use toys to develop concepts like symbolism and abstract thought as well as taking turns.
• Physical Play – Being physical helps kids develop their motor skills and emotional intelligence while keeping them fit. Physical games like duck-duck-goose or tag help children build socio-emotional skills.
• Outdoor Play – Playing outdoors can help kids develop skills such as balance and spatial awareness. Many kindergartens have eliminated recess, but playing outdoors can help kids achieve academic success.
• Pretend Play – Imagination and creativity can help kids experiment with social roles and learn how to cooperate. Whether it’s dress-up, make-believe, or other forms of pretend play, kids can learn how to negotiate and communicate.

How Much Time Should Kids Play Video Games?

While certain video games can encourage learning, it’s important to make sure kids don’t get too much screen time. In today’s world, it’s easy for a kid to be surrounded by screens, including video games, smartphones, televisions, and more. Excessive screen time can lead to pediatric obesity, behavioral problems, and poor sleep. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children older than five should be limited to no more than two hours of screen time a day. Children from two to five should only be exposed to one hour of high-quality programming. Children from 18 to 24 months should only have parent-supervised quality programming, while babies under 18 months should have no screen time.

Just Children Encourages Play

Just Children encourages play time in our child care programs. We offer infant and pre-toddler child care, toddler child care, pre-school, a kindergarten program, before and after school programs, and summer camp. We make it easy for parents and guide your child to educational success. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our classrooms and meet our staff.