Motor/Physical Play
Motor play provides critical opportunities for children
to develop both individual gross and fine muscle
strength and overall integration of muscles, nerves,
and brain functions. Recent research has confirmed the
critical link between stimulating activity and brain
development. Young children must have ample
opportunities to develop physically, and motor play
instills this disposition toward physical activity in
young children.
Social Play
A variety of opportunities for children to engage in
social play are the best mechanisms for progressing
through the different social stages. By interacting with
others in play settings, children learn social rules
such as, give and take, reciprocity, cooperation, and
sharing. Through a range of interactions with children
at different social stages, children also learn to use
moral reasoning to develop a mature sense of values. To
be prepared to function effectively in the adult world,
children need to participate in lots of social
situations.
Constructive Play
Constructive play is when children manipulate their
environment to create things. This type of play occurs
when children build towers and cities with blocks, play
in the sand, construct contraptions on the woodworking
bench, and draw murals with chalk on the sidewalk.
Constructive play allows children to experiment with
objects; find out combinations that work and don't work;
and learn basic knowledge about stacking, building,
drawing, making music and constructing. It also gives
children a sense of accomplishment and empowers them
with control of their environment. Children who are
comfortable manipulating objects and materials also
become good at manipulating words, ideas and concepts.
Fantasy Play
Children learn to abstract, to try out new roles and
possible situations, and to experiment with language and
emotions with fantasy play. In addition, children
develop flexible thinking; learn to create beyond the
here and now; stretch their imaginations, use new words
and word combinations in a risk-free environment, and
use numbers and words to express ideas, concepts,
dreams, and histories. In an ever-more technological
society, lots of practice with all forms of abstraction
- time, place, amount, symbols, words, and ideas - is
essential.
Games With Rules
Developmentally, most children progress from an
egocentric view of the world to an understanding of the
importance of social contracts and rules. Part of this
development occurs as they learn that games like Follow
the Leader, Red Rover, Simon Says, baseball and soccer
cannot function without everyone adhering to the same
set of rules. The "games with rules" concept teaches
children a critically important concept - the game of
life has rules (laws) that we all must follow to
function productively.
