BENEFITS OF PLAY FOR CHILDREN

Play time is very good for children. Just as the saying goes ‘all works and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. We have heard that statement too much that we take the importance of what it says for granted. A lot of Nigerian parents  especially now unfortunately  don’t encourage play time for their children as  much as they should. Reading or academic time has taken over much of the children’s time. Book time is good but play time is equally beneficial to children, the balance just have to be maintain.

The importance of play time for children should not be underestimated.   A lot of Parents  think play time is just a leisure or fun time for children, that is true but children also develop a crucial life skill which prepare their brain for adult life when they play.

So check out these scientific benefits of play, your child’s brain might thank you.

Better behaviour

Depriving school children of  play time as punishment might actually be detrimental  to their studies.  Kids behave better in the classroom when they have the chance to let off steam on the playground during the day. Researchers compared teacher ratings of 8- and 9-year-olds’ behaviour in schools with and without recess periods. The children who had more than 15 minutes a day of breaks behaved better during academic time.
Promote Self Awareness

Playing  both free play and adult-guided play  help children to be aware of other people’s feelings, and also help them to regulate their own emotions, a skill that serves them well as they move through life.
Encourage Active Lifestyle

Tree-climbing, playing football, rolling tires, ridding bicycle, role plays e.t.c  is a lot more beneficial to kids than watching  television or computer-game time. Children over the age of 2  should be encourage to engage in at least an hour a day of moderate, enjoyable physical activity. There’s evidence that active children grow into active adults, thus decreasing their risk of heart disease and other scourges of a inactive lifestyle.

 It Boost Learning

The more physical activity tests children can pass, the more likely they are to do well on academic tests. Therefore unrelenting classroom time may not be the best way to improve learning.

Children learn to count and about numbers when they’re playing football and believe me they know which team is ahead. They are telling stories on the playground, and they’re getting active.
It’s fun

Play is a natural state of childhood, even non-mammals do it.

Adults get breaks, Kids need breaks, too.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” – Mr. Rogers