5 Stages Of Play That Play A Huge Role In Child Development

Children absolutely need to play everyday. Here are the 5 stages of play that play a big role in brain development in kids.

I observe people raising their children with a lot of devices and screen time as a parent of three children. I’m not arguing that screen time is terrible; in fact, I believe it provides an excellent opportunity for youngsters to learn a variety of valuable skills, but it should be used in moderation.

While it’s fine to give screen time, it’s also critical to incorporate non-screen playtime into your children’s everyday lives. When it comes to teaching our children problem-solving abilities, communication skills, arithmetic skills, and more, activities like arts and crafts, walking in the park, building railroads, and building lego aeroplanes are all extremely important.

Learn about the 5 stages of play below!

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5 Stages Of Play For Kids

As children grow, the way that they play also grows. There are five stages of play, and they start at birth.

Stage 1: Unoccupied Play

This is the play that starts right at birth!  Those little movements that happen to infants that do not seem to have a clear purpose that is called unoccupied play! Cool hey.

See also: How Can You Assist Your Child in Developing Fine Motor Skills?

Stage 2: Solitary Play

This is the stage of play when toddlers start to play on their own.  You can see their imaginations growing as they play by themselves with cars or dolls and make pretend situations. When children play during the solitary play stage, they often do not notice what is going on around them, and it can be challenging to get their attention when they are engaged in play.

Stage 3: Onlooker Play

As the name suggests, onlooker play is what happens when children watch other children play.  This usually happens around the toddler and preschool age.  The child could be interested in what the other child is playing but will not engage in the play themselves.

Stage 4: Parallel Play

Parallel play happens when children play together but do not interact with each other during the playing. They typically play side by side or parallel to each other.

Stage 5: Associative Play

Around the preschool age, children become more interested in playing with other children over toys.  Children will start asking each other questions and start playing with toys together. This is the stage where children learn about sharing and how to get along with others.

Playing At The Playground Is Important For Kids Too

When you watch childs on a playground, you’ll see that, while they’re having a good time, they’re also getting a good workout.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise each day, and the playground is an excellent place to do it. Furthermore, when children develop the habit of exercising and regard it as a pleasurable experience, they are more likely to stay active as they grow older.

Playgrounds are an important part of a child’s healthy development because they provide a location for them to obtain a full-body workout that includes exercises that strengthen their arms, legs, torso, and other muscles. Each system, from the cardiovascular to the circulatory, is developed and benefited by intense play. Playing on the playground provides a wide range of physical benefits for children:

• Flexibility and balance have improved.
• Overall motor abilities, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination development
• Possibilities to improve their movement control
• Improved intuition
• Promotion of good heart and lung health
• Muscles that are stronger
• Immune system improvement
• Obesity and diabetes risk are reduced.

When children spend time on playgrounds, they learn a variety of abilities and push themselves to their limitations by attempting to use various pieces of equipment. Kids can improve their agility, speed, strength, balance, and coordination by using slides, swings, and climbers, among other things.

5 Stages Of Play That Play A Huge Role In Child Development Bottom Line

One of the most effective ways to educate young minds has always been through play.

Play is a great way for kids to acquire healthy behaviours, especially when they pretend to cook in a kitchen and wash their hands in a pretend sink.

Pretend play encourages healthy habits by allowing youngsters to actively participate in the world around them, particularly if you can combine some fundamental duties and turn them into games. This can aid in the prevention of childhood obesity, sadness, and loneliness.