What is play? Play occurs throughout life, but the form of play varies as children grow older. Children play every day. Babies play by exploring with their hands and feet, while young children may dress up to pretend play. For older children playing may mean a specific hobby, playing special games or enjoying specific activities. Play, in one form or another, continues from childhood into adulthood. People who do not take part in any form of play are believed to be more likely to suffer stress, depression and boredom.
The Oxford definition of play, the verb, is: amuse oneself, sport, frolic or employ oneself in a game. In children the meaning suggests an activity undertaken for pleasure.
Play is considered to be a primary need of every child. Both nature and nurture contribute to the development of the skills required to play effectively. The adult plays a key role in developing successful play in the early years. Play has an important role in the physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development of children and in essence it is a learning experience.
Play can be divided into two definite categories: free play and structured play.
Free play takes place when the child is leading the play experience, sets out the rules and boundaries. This type of play will often hold the child’s interest longer and children can become engrossed in the activity because they developed it themselves.
Structured play is adult led, guided and planned. Structured play tends to be more limiting and minimises the child opportunities to be inventive.
It is important that in a child’s development there is a good balance between free and structured play.
Stages of play The characteristics of play change as different stages of development are reached. Between 0-2 years children tend to play alone, and there is little interaction with other children. From 2-2 1/2 children are Spectators and will watch other children playing but will not join in. From 2 1/2-3 the are Parallel players, i.e. they will play alongside others but not together and from 3-4 they are classed as Associative players as they begin to interact with others in play and start to develop friendships and the preference of playing with certain other children. Above 4 years they become Co-operative players, playing together with other children and sharing goals for their play.
Types of play and their value for child development Play is classified into four main play types:
imaginative play
construction
creative play
physical play
Good quality play provision begins with providing activities to stimulate all areas of development.
Imaginative Play Imaginative play includes pretend, fantasy and symbolic play. Imaginative play develops self-expression as well as giving children the opportunity to explore their experiences. It helps children see things from others point of view and develops social skills. Ideal first toys for imaginative play include puppets and puppet theatres where your child can create and play out scenes and stories from their imagination.
Construction Construction is a process of building an end product from a range of materials. However the end product is not the most important thing, especially not for the younger child. Construction and manipulative play is suitable for all stages of play and can be an individual activity like a jigsaw or a co-operative activity like a floor puzzle. Not only does construction promote manipulative skills it also encourages children to develop their language skills by talking about what they are doing. Suitable toys include: Teifoc sets with real terracotta bricks (age 3 and up), Eitech sets (build a car, tractor - age 6 and up etc) and for younger ones try PlayMais, a natural toy made of maize which little fingers can stick together with water, no mess or fuss, just fun! Also with PlayMais it doesn't matter if your litle one eats a piece while your back is turned, there are only natural colourings used.
Creative Play Creative play covers a range of activities from art and craft work to self-expression through music and dance. Creative play offers children the opportunity to develop fine manipulative skills. Adults should refrain from interfering with a child’s creative work and the work should be displayed without being altered so that they can feel proud of their work and are not dependent on adult ideas.
Physical Play Physical play covers many different indoor and outdoor activities. It can involve equipment such as climbing frames or vehicles or no equipment at all. Physical play not only encourages healthy living habits, but results in better eating and sleeping patterns as well as developing self-confidence and physical competence. Physical play develops both fine and gross motor skills, as well as muscle control.
What we do about it at e-niko
At e-niko we aim to provide toys that will stimulate children throughout their different stages of development. Toys have been selected to support different types of play and encourage children to achieve their potential in all areas of development. We are constantly amazed by the enormous contribution children have made in assisting us to choose our toys. It took us a while to realise that children are amongst the most demanding customers in the world – their rules are very simple: toys must never break and may never become boring!
We knew that we would also have to satisfy parents and carers that the toys they choose from e-niko have high educational value and are absolutely safe. Our selection reflects our commitment and respect to children's developmental needs as well as comprising a large dose of "fun units" to ensure that the boredom-factor is addressed and our little customers stay happy. Author: Eniko Laszlo
» left by Timmy from Australia (3 years 250 days ago.)
EXCELLENT....HELPED WITH MY ASSIGNMENT YEH THANKS. Respond to this comment
» left by sophie from united kingdom (3 years 152 days ago.)
this article realy haelped me on my GCSE child development course work!
is asham it didnt havemuch about gross motor skills and fine motor skills!
but it was still very helpful!
:) Respond to this comment
» left by milly mackman from United Kingdom (3 years 147 days ago.)
It is incredible . Helped more than anyother. Its just excellent. Respond to this comment
» left by naomi from england (3 years 127 days ago.)
great info could have more about fine manipulative skills but still really good Respond to this comment
» left by Richard from scarborough (3 years 123 days ago.)
Thats this is a realy good site,it help me with my course work for childcare,iam doing my gcse in childcare at graham school.thanks for your help Respond to this comment
» left by jade from bath (3 years 115 days ago.)
cheers for helping me with my course work, im not one of these people who sit down for hours and do it. Respond to this comment
» left by natalie from uk (3 years 108 days ago.)
i think this site is exellent and it really helpful.i am that sure about this website that i am sure i will do really well in my gcse's. thanx a lot and good luck to everyone that is doing gcse's child development. Respond to this comment
» left by may from kent (3 years 103 days ago.)
it realy helped me alot on my child care course. as im not at school at the mo i need all the help i could get untill i do back to RSG thanks. Respond to this comment
» left by Cassie from UK (3 years 103 days ago.)
This article really helped me with my GCSE Child Development coursework! Thanks, Cassie Respond to this comment
» left by Kate B.K from Reading (3 years 100 days ago.)
This site gave me everything i needed to know for my research in my child development class. Thank you so much you've saved me so much time searching the web! Thanx again xx Respond to this comment
» left by pxulx from cumbria (3 years 94 days ago.)
itz ok, im goin 2 use sum info 4 ma hsc c/wrk Respond to this comment
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» left by natasha from leyland (3 years ago.)
does not have the information wanted about guided play and supported play. Respond to this comment
» left by Jenny from Shrewsbury (2 years 345 days ago.)
Nat n cass, u from shrewsbury? im doin GCSE child dev 2!!!!!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Amanda from Ireland (2 years 329 days ago.)
Thanxs a mil, this help me big time with my Early Years assignment. Was having a real problem on getting started but this has changed everything. Love u thanxs. Amanda Respond to this comment
» left by Nikee from New jersey, U.S.A (2 years 305 days ago.)
Thx for all the info. It really helped me with my psychology child emotional development project.
thanks again! Respond to this comment
» left by sammi from here (2 years 304 days ago.)
very good it helped me alot for my coursework!
» left by Emma from peterborough (2 years 301 days ago.)
great, this site helped me with my FAR for child development. Respond to this comment
» left by Louise from Devon (Bideford College) (2 years 293 days ago.)
This site is great. you have helped me a lot with my GNVQ coursework....Thank you!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Vicki From the UK from England UK (2 years 288 days ago.)
Thank god for this site. It really helped me on what play is and the stages. But thats all I required. Thanks again. Bye! Respond to this comment
» left by ema lafferty! from Mansfield (2 years 280 days ago.)
this information really did help me with my childcare courswork (g.c.s.e's) although it didn't have all the inforamtion that i needed but it was still really helpful to me. thanks very much! xx Respond to this comment
» left by Vickzz from UK (2 years 276 days ago.)
God, this site it fantasic, thanks a lot who ever wrote it. Its a great site. But I wish it had more of discovery play lol, but it is great cheers x Respond to this comment
» left by rox from bucks (2 years 257 days ago.)
this helped me loads on my BAR and FAR for child development. this has given me loads of infomation i was really stuck before
» left by Anonymous (2 years 238 days ago.)
GOOD WEBBY :) CHEERS x ITS HALPED A LOT...JESSICA D Respond to this comment
» left by Danielle H from Brownhillz. (2 years 235 days ago.)
Gd site helped alot with my child assignment, tar.xx Respond to this comment
» left by amy from norfolk (2 years 235 days ago.)
i think this websit is great it it very clear and easy to understand and it was a really big help to my coursework
THANKS!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Emma from England (2 years 235 days ago.)
Very useful for Child Development GCSE coursework! Thanks! Respond to this comment
» left by mariyah from england (2 years 214 days ago.)
way cool and so tatally useful for my gcse course work in child play!!!! thankyou. mariyah england. xxxx Respond to this comment
» left by shoana from rochdale (2 years 186 days ago.)
it dosnt have enough inpomation on Imaginative Play please can you put more in thank yoou ps this is a very helpful site Respond to this comment
» left by Sarah from Uk (2 years 158 days ago.)
The information really helped but you should include more types of play and also say why children play as well as what is play. Respond to this comment
» left by Tayler from Uk (2 years 158 days ago.)
The information that you have got really helped me understand Respond to this comment
» left by Jess H from Ash Vale, Surrey (2 years 119 days ago.)
Thank. You. Searchwarp!! i didnt really know where to start, but this really helped and is exactly what i needed !!! Respond to this comment
» left by lynn from n.ireland limavady (2 years 83 days ago.)
very good information and helped me very well!! thanks xo Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 336 days ago.)
its good but it would of been better if there was a table with the childs age and what skill they can do at those ages Respond to this comment
» left by Sam Gray from Falkirk (1 year 321 days ago.)
Found this site very helpful towards my coursework on my HNC, being well laid out and easily
understood. Respond to this comment
» left by Jessie bbz from Rotherham (1 year 229 days ago.)
Your site was so helpful and useful to me.. Didnt think i would have learnt so much just from one site, nut i have... Thank you so much... It helped me so much with my Child care coureswork.. Thank you xxxxxxxx Respond to this comment
» left by Dell from UK (1 year 196 days ago.)
no it wasn't!!! i need to know why MANIPULATIVE play is important in a child's development. Respond to this comment
» left by Soffie from UK (1 year 127 days ago.)
was very help and easy to use and get info frm, which is essential wen ur in a stress about coursework :D Respond to this comment
» left by Loryn from United Kingdom (1 year 103 days ago.)
i need to know more about manipulative play !! Respond to this comment
» left by smithy from my house (1 year 82 days ago.)
yes this site as a big help Respond to this comment
» left by rosie from bedfordshire (1 year 74 days ago.)
easy site to follow but didnt have all the information that is needed !! Respond to this comment
» left by jackie from london (1 year 74 days ago.)
cool site init thanx 4 da coursework help !! Respond to this comment
» left by Hannah from uk (1 year 67 days ago.)
YES, it was amazing thanks!!!........n hey Hopie lol x Respond to this comment
» left by Sindbad (1 year 21 days ago.)
Was well helpful thanks, really helped me on what is play for my Child development coursework :)!
your a star Respond to this comment
» left by chelsea from england (1 year 21 days ago.)
Thankyou it helped me alot in my coursework
» left by Anonymous (343 days 5 hours ago.)
it was very helpful for my assessment. thank youuu" Respond to this comment
» left by lorena ortega from london (343 days 5 hours ago.)
yes this site was very helpful for my assessment work, thank uuuuu:-) Respond to this comment
» left by sophie from southampton (324 days 11 hours ago.)
Sorry didnt help much. Nothing on Manipulative Play for my child development coursework thanks anyway
» left by Annalise from Amble (307 days 11 hours ago.)
really helped me with my childcare c.e :-) Annalise xx
» left by Gen from Norwich (246 days 15 hours ago.)
this didnt really help me with discovery play for my child development coursework, but was good for creative play :)
» left by louise from united kingdom (232 days 9 hours ago.) hey this website was great 4 mine child development course work thnx alot.
» left by Anonymous (221 days 6 hours ago.) Hey, thanks a lot this really helped me with my Child Develpment coursework, I hope I did well, and i hope all the above did well. Thanks again!
» left by emmakulatha bujiku from uk (101 days 12 hours ago.)
this is real helpful and I appreciate it.
» left by patricia from rotherham (76 days 13 hours ago.)
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