Importance of playtime for young children

OPINION

BY CASSANDRA WHITE

Playtime is critical during a child’s development, as it provides numerous benefits that extend far beyond mere amusement. Involving children in play allows them to explore, experiment, and make sense of the world around them since play boosts their cognitive and physical growth, which forms a foundation for their future wellbeing. The World Health Organization (2022) survey on the importance of playtime reveals that the involvement of children in physical play such as running, climbing, and jumping enhances their motor skills and overall physical health, thus boosting their general immunity towards diseases.

Playtime also improves the child’s social and emotional development. Social and emotional development during playtime is crucial for young children, as it helps them develop essential skills for healthy relationships and emotional wellbeing (E. Houser et al., 2016). While engaging in pretend play scenarios such as playing “house” or “doctor,” they learn to take on different roles and interact with their playmates. In this consideration, the children easily practice communication, negotiation, and cooperation, which helps them develop empathy, understand others’ perspectives, and build strong social bonds (E. Houser et al., 2016).

By engaging in play, children also experience a range of emotions and learn to regulate their feelings, express themselves, and navigate conflicts – experiences that lay the foundation for developing healthy social skills, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence, which are vital for their future interactions and overall wellbeing.

Improvement of the child’s language and communication skills is another value that comes with allocating enough playtime to children. Language and communication skills are
greatly enhanced through playtime in young children. Feldman (2019) explains that when children engage in imaginative play, for example, they often create narratives and engage in role-
playing. This makes it easier for the children to expand their vocabulary as they
articulate their ideas, express their thoughts, and engage in dialogue with their playmates. Games that involve following instructions, such as “Simon Says,” promote comprehension and
following directions (Feldman, 2019).

The presented considerations justify that sufficient playtime improves children’s language and communication skills.