Play Is The Foundation For All Learning For Young Children

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“Play is how children begin to understand and process their world. Children’s play unlocks their creativity and imagination, and develops reading, thinking, and problem solving skills as well as further develops motor skills. It provides the base foundation for learning.” Angie Rupan, Program Coordinator for Child Development Center in South San Francisco, CA and an early childhood educator for over 20 years.

         The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), calls children’s play their work. “When they’re learning and playing with joy, then it’s a positive experience. They develop a positive approach to learning.”

The Benefits of Play Include:

 Physical Development: “Your attention works best if your body is involved, as many parts of it as possible. So children learning to play while physically engaged with materials and interacting with each other works best.” Peter Pizzolongo, Associate Director for Professional Development at NAEYC.

Language: Children build language skills through cooperative play.

Self-Concept: Play builds a strong sense of self-confidence.

Social Development: Working with others helps children develop an awareness of differences in people around them. These experiences provide a foundation for learning how to solve problems and communicate with peers.

Attributions
Trisha Taylor