Children can stay engaged with various types of play, stimulating their brain development and skills. The preference may vary for each child, but when it comes to a fun activity and play, they are ready to explore and experience. Play can be any organized or unorganized activity that is enjoyable or exciting for children (1). All types of play, including playing with a ball, acting like a superhero, or just trying siblings’ clothes, could promote a child’s learning process and brain development. Read on to know various types of play for children and their importance and benefits.
Why Is Play Important For A Child’s Development?
Children usually learn new things and forge social relations by engaging in different types of play. It could help exercise a child’s problem-solving skills, risk-taking capabilities, creativity, conflict resolution, effective communication, and cooperation. Playing may also affect various academic skills related to maths, science, language, and reading (2). Since play affects multiple attributes, a child could experience physical, intellectual, and social development through play. Moreover, playing relaxes a child and strengthens their muscles (3). The following are the effects of play on key areas of a child’s development (4).
Gross motor skills development: Children learn motor skills, including balance, movement, and lifting objects. Physical plays help them stay active and healthy and strengthen their bones and muscles as they grow older.
Fine motor skills development: Right from toddlerhood, certain games like sorting, beading etc can help in tuning the child’s finer finger movements.
Intellectual development: Play improves children’s reasoning, memory, and thinking. Interestingly, toddlers between the ages of two and three may learn to identify shapes and sizes, count, and enhance their imagination while playing.
Play activities need not be for a longer period of time. Multiple short durations of play spread across the day could be beneficial, as well. Also, if, as a parent, you are unable to spend time with your child, you may allow them to help you with household chores, such as cleaning. It could make for a playful way to teach your little one some essential skills (5).
Different Types Of Play
There are different types of play, depending on the way the child plays it. Most children prefer a type of play at a certain age. The following are the different types of play and their benefits (6).
1. Unoccupied play
Babies usually experience this type of play. It seems less like a play and more like experimentation. Babies are almost still, and their activities seem less integrated or organized. For instance, you may see babies just making a lot of movements with hands and legs. Benefits:
In this type of play, babies explore the tangible materials around them and discover how their body works.
They also learn to manipulate objects around them and self-control. It helps them prepare for future exploration.
2. Solitary play
This stage occurs in toddlers often between two and three years of age. In solitary play, they engage in self-entertainment and don’t require anyone’s involvement. They also might not notice other toddlers. Parents may worry about their child’s self-isolation, but it is quite normal. A few examples of solitary play is when a toddler is alone and flips through a book, plays with Lego sets, or solves a puzzle. Benefits:
It prepares them to play with others in the future but, most importantly, makes them self-sufficient.
When children play independently, they exercise their motor and intellectual skills.
3. Onlooker play
During onlooker play, the child acts as a spectator and observes other children play rather than participate. It is a normal stage in a child’s development and does not necessarily indicate that the child is hesitant and scared to engage with others. Benefits:
By watching, they learn about other children, the use of materials, and social interaction between people.
They learn new ways to explore the world and manipulate objects by observing others.
4. Parallel play
It is when children play close to each other, but they don’t engage with one another. During parallel play, they learn to play without disturbing or affecting each other. An example is when two children play with their respective toy cars but without interacting with each other. The children might try to observe and copy each other out of curiosity. Another example is when a child goes near a group of children, picks a toy, and starts playing alone without talking or interacting with others. Benefits:
It appears more like a warm-up, that is,they are silently learning about different ways to engage or interact with others.
This type of play also helps them practice their new skills.
5. Associative play
It is the first step towards learning to have fun with others. During associative play, the child is interested in doing the same activities or using the same toys as others but without interacting with other children. For instance, children playing on the same slide in the playground but each performing a different activity, such as sliding, climbing, or jumping. Benefits:
It allows them to practice what they have been observing in onlooker and parallel play.
It lays the foundation for the development of new communication and social skills to engage with adults and children.
6. Cooperative play
During cooperative play, children learn to coordinate and cooperate with others. They are not only interested in the activity but also in children involved in the activity. Since the child is still learning to socialize, it could be difficult for them to share readily, take turns, negotiate, and compromise on control. This type of play, therefore, involves conflict, which is quite normal. For instance, if a group of children is building something with building blocks, they may constantly have conflict about the placement of the blocks. Benefits:
It helps them observe and learn problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
It teaches them to create group goals or set rules for a game.
7. Digital play
There are different forms of technology that offer good content with high scope of engagement and learning for children. Although digital play, including video games, has limitations in terms of physical activity, it does provide cognitive stimulation when used correctly and under parental guidance. Benefits:
It creates a new level of interaction and a distinctive learning experience.
It enhances digital literacy and IT skills. It could also improve learning and academic performance.
8. Active play
It involves the physical movement of children and can take place indoors or outdoors. It can include sports and activities such as playing football, obstacle courses, and tug of war. Active play could help a child acknowledge their own limitations and exercise the skills learned in other types of play. The child can also exercise and practice their gross motor skills. Benefits:
It enhances persistence, perseverance, and attention span. It also makes them accustomed to the happiness of winning and frustration of losing.
This type of play improves healthy competitiveness among children.
This form of play is most conducive to enhancing stamina and physical health of the child.
9. Creative play
It involves the utilization of a child’s imagination, creativity, and inventive ideas. It could also provide an outlet for a child’s thoughts and expressions. Creative play consists of several artistic activities, such as painting, dancing, singing, and acting. Benefits:
It inspires children to be innovative and think out of the ordinary.
It can motivate children to pursue their interests. It may lead to future inventors and innovators.
