Introduction

“Play is the highest form of research.”

Albert Einstein

The power of play is such that people across the globe have acknowledged it from time to time.

Explore the world of toddler development through a playful approach. Learn how to nurture essential skills and abilities in your little one on the delightful journey of growth.

Let us visualize a group of toddlers engrossed in building blocks. Their eyes twinkle as they construct towers of various shapes and sizes. “John we can also build a bus if we add another set of wheels here”, says Meera helping her friend out. Little do they know that while having fun, they’re also building the foundation for their cognitive, physical, and social development. Play is more than just entertainment for these young explorers—it is the key that unlocks their potential for growth and learning.

  In the words of Dr Tiff Jumaily, “Play is how children learn.” So, let’s unwind on the importance of the power of play in early childhood and the value it adds in the later stages of life.

Understanding Playful Development in Toddlers

Toddlers experience such a dramatic shift in supervision as they move out of spoon-feeding to self-care. Play is not a fun activity for them but a medium to redefine various skills for overall development. So let us explore how play based learning can be a catalyst in the overall development of children.

Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

A process through which kids develop the ability to think, analyze, process information and act accordingly is termed cognitive development. As per a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), toddlers develop higher levels of executive functioning skills like mental flexibility and self-regulation while playing.

Cognitive development in early childhood can be a roadmap for children to understand complex theories and problems later in education. Let’s take an example of building blocks. A child’s ability to think and then fit these blocks to form a shape strengthens his problem-solving activities.

Storytelling can also sharpen creative corners and help them think outside the box.

The ability to recognize colours, shapes and sizes boosts logical thinking among children.

Physical Development

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the significance of outdoor play among toddlers. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states “Early childhood is a period of rapid development and a time when family lifestyle patterns can be adapted to boost health gains.” Ensuring these guidelines shall be a lifesaver and check obesity, also uplifting the physical and mental well-being of kids.

Gross motor skills (use of large muscles for coordination) and fine motor skills (use of hands and fingers) get enhanced during play. Climbing, running, and jumping, to name a few teaches a child body control. Activities like writing and painting improve eye-to-eye contact and finger strength among toddlers.

Social Development

Social interaction within the family and outside helps a child master the art of conversation. They develop the skill to share and form a bond with others. Parents must take the initiative to organize a family get-together to develop a corner for affection in their toddlers. This will help kids develop a friend circle, engage in play and establish relationships among peers.

Also Read: 5 Powerful Ways to Develop Respect For Elders in Kids

Emotional Development

Children learn to explore a varied range of emotions during play. They laugh, cry, be frustrated, and enjoy, slowly realizing that they can be themselves even outside the home. One can always spot children helping each other out when needed. This is the foundation of emotional regulation.

Play rejuvenates boundaries among toddlers. They learn to share things and let go for the sake of peers. This generates a healthy relationship and social-emotional competence among them.

An upliftment of self-esteem can be seen among toddlers when they discover the importance of their contribution to peers while playing. A kid would want to add value and look further for his/her turn.

Parent’s Role in Facilitating Play Based Learning

 A child generally replicates what his parents do. Hence being labelled as the foremost teacher to a toddler, parents must support and enhance their playful experience. I prefer to practise play based learning with my daughter. Apart from spending some mom-daughter quality time, it also helps me get a break from my “stressful” schedule.

Create a suitable environment

As parents, one must provide age-appropriate toys, and check for the material standard to set an environment for kids to play and learn at the same time. Self-regulation should also be countered here. For example, when a child tries to touch a harmful object (like a socket), he should be stopped immediately, making sure he understands the reason for being stopped.

Be Observant

Since the capabilities and interests of each child are different, it is the role of parents to identify these at the nascent stage and encourage them accordingly.

It is to be noted that parents need to be watchful about the screen time of kids as well. Age-appropriate usage must be encouraged. To know more about the effects of screen time on children, have a look at my other article.

Follow your child’s lead

Observe what your child acquires more interest in and encourage them to move ahead. This helps them acquire independence and confidence.

Be a part of the play

Children tend to be more involved in play if they see their parents being a part of it. Practising Yoga together can also be a fun way to engage kids. This also strengthens their bond.

Conclusion

Play based learning, apart from being a source of fun for toddlers, is also an important aspect of overall development and growth. Studies have proven the value of play not only sharpens the mind of a child but also lays the foundation for a smarter grown-up. Parents must recognize its importance and encourage their children to play. One never knows what miracle the power of play might bring to future citizens.