The Benefits of Play

 Play is so great a part of child life that people often overlook its important role in a child’s development. It is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and educational well being of children and youth and is so important to optimal child development that the United Nations High Commission has recognized it for Human Rights as a right of every child.

Cognitive development includes the mastering of new concepts, imagination, abstract thinking, problem solving and creativity.
Physically, play helps develop a child’s growing muscles. It also lets out nervous energy which if not expressed makes children tense and irritable.

Socially, play leads children to behave in a social manner. Without it, the child becomes selfish and domineering. From playing with others, the child learns conflict resolution, to share, to co-operate and make friends.

Educationally, play encouraging children to explore and discover together and on their own, provides opportunities for collaborative learning with adults and peers play teaches young children to perceive shapes, colours, sizes, and textures etc..

In fulfilling our mandate, we build self-esteem, confidence and strengthen families which by extension strengthen communities and the country as a whole.

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