Play is FUNdamental

At times, it may seem that all our children do, or want to do all day long is play.
But, before we dismiss what seems like a counter-productive activity to children's development and learning, we need to look at the need and benefits of allowing children to play freely. An ever increasing body of research has overwhelmingly shown what these benefits are. In fact, play has been demonstrated to be so important in a child's development that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has listed "The Right To Play" as a fundamental right of children world wide!
Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears
while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers. As they master their world, play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges. Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to
learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue. Ideally, much of play involves adults, but when play is controlled by adults, children acquiesce to adult rules and concerns and lose some of
the benefits play offers them, particularly in developing creativity, leadership, and group skills. In contrast to passive entertainment, play builds active, healthy bodies. In fact, it has been suggested that encouraging unstructured play may be an exceptional way to increase physical activity levels in children, which is one important strategy in the resolution of the obesity epidemic. Perhaps above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood.
Children’s developmental growth is effected by appropriate, affective relationships with loving
and consistent caregivers as they relate to children through play. When parents and child care providers observe children in play or join with them in child-driven play, they are given a unique opportunity to see the world from their child’s vantage point as the child navigates a world perfectly created just to fit his or her needs. The interactions that occur through play tell children that adults are fully paying attention to them and help to build
enduring relationships. Adults who have the opportunity to glimpse into a child's world learn
to communicate more effectively with children and are given another setting to offer gentle, nurturing guidance.
Less verbal children may be able to express their views, experiences, and even frustrations through play, allowing adults an opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of their perspective. Quite simply, play offers adults a wonderful opportunity to engage fully with children.
Play is integral to the academic environment. It ensures that the school setting attends to the social and emotional development of children as well as their cognitive development. It has been shown to help children adjust to the school setting and even to enhance children’s learning readiness, learning behaviors, and problem-solving skills. Social-emotional learning is best
integrated with academic learning; it is concerning if some of the forces that enhance children’s ability to learn are elevated at the expense of others. Play and unscheduled time that allow for peer interactions are important components of social-emotional learning.