Play is the most important activity in a child's life because it allows them to develop all their skills. This is because with games children learn by playing to think creatively and interact with other children.
Therefore, we are going to give you some interesting facts about the game and also why children learn by playing. With these playful activities they internalize concepts almost without realizing it. And it is that learning is a game!
Characteristics of the game in children
Children learn by playing and that is why it is necessary for parents to understand what the main characteristics of the game are. Playing has a series of fundamental characteristics for children:
- The child has the possibility to choose what he wants to do
- Thinking about playing gives the child positive feelings because he knows that he is going to have fun
- He acts spontaneously, so his performances may or may not go so well
- As the child does what he wants, his motivation is very high
- Children can experiment with new ideas and carry them out
Through play, they develop physically and discover a wide range of emotional skills that help them process the world in which they live, both the positive and negative aspects. In short, playing is essential for the development of the little ones from the moment they arrive in this world.
Games are associated with responses that facilitate learning, especially because with games and conflicts that may arise with other children during the activity, They help them cope with and manage stress. Let's see then the benefits that play brings to learning in children.
When children learn by playing: benefits
In addition to the obvious intervention of fun in games, the other benefits that playing offers are innumerable. To get started, helps little ones to develop cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally.
It is the children's first contact with learning, because with games they explore, face and solve problems, and begin to understand the world and their place in it. With games your children have the opportunity to emulate the world they see and practice their skills. Their baggage of creativity and experimentation grows, and this helps them learn how to interact and how to communicate with others.
Cognitive benefits
Play promotes healthy development of children and their critical thinking skills, which strengthens memory and helps them understand the relationship between “cause and effect”. Having the opportunity to play encourages children to explore the different possibilities offered by the game, to choose between them, and to encourage curiosity to try other options if the first one does not turn out as expected.
These skills are the basis of intellectual development and the cognitive process. Children are also inspired by play to act, create and imagine. They learn to conceptualize and exchange ideas.
Physical benefits when learning by playing
Children's games often involve a lot of movement, such as running, jumping, building sand castles, climbing trees, swimming in a pool, etc. For all this, it is evident that the development of motor skills is important, and this is from great importance also for intellectual learning.
The physical activity of the games increases the resistance of the children, their flexibility and the conscience of their own body, in addition to the balance and to learn the spatial relationships of the world.
All these benefits help the development of concentration and memory. Another great benefit is that physical activity helps to channel stress and feelings of frustration in a positive way.
Social benefits
Social development is important for learning because it helps children learn to interact with other children and people. Through games with other children, your children develop an understanding of social expectations and norms in the social sphere.
The game also provides opportunities to share thoughts and ideas so it improves the ability to speak, they learn to listen to others and improves your understanding and the meaning of engaging with other people as promising something and keeping it or not.
Emotional benefits
Children process their feelings and new concepts through play. When children play, they often lose for different reasons, and this provokes feelings of sadness, anger, disappointment, etc.
These negative feelings help them build their confidence and encourage them to develop their identity and self-esteem.. For all this, the importance it deserves to the recreational activities of our children should be given. Games with other children that include physical activity will help our children improve their personal and academic performance.