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For children, play is not just an occupation, but rather a basic need that is as important to them as food and sleep. In the game, they can learn about themselves and the world, test their skills and much more. How important is the game? Why is this important?
Play as a basic need
To understand the importance of play, it is first necessary to understand that play is not just a mere occupation or activity for children, but is as important as food and sleep. the game is a a basic need and are inextricably linked to the child’s development. The importance of play for children can be seen by observing how immersed they are in it. This is where important experience with self and environment is gained, skills are tested, feelings are processed and a wide range of development is supported.
Play can serve as a way for children access to the world to serve, but also as a species escape from reality, which can be processed in this way. All this happens from one initiative and one self-propelled out without the need for constant external incentives. Children usually play according to their current feelings, needs, interests and abilities.
On the one hand, they are learning New and constantly discovering new things, on the other hand, they also try them behaviour and practice them until they master them. By exploring the environment on their own, children experience their own self-efficacy. This can build self-confidence, healthy self-esteem, and initiative and creativity in meeting tasks and challenges. and personality is formed and formed.
Play by age groups
The importance of play is equally significant for all age groups of children. However, what the game looks like is changing with age relative to abilitywhich the child gradually acquires. and small children or babies start with it functional game, in which they explore themselves and their surroundings through touch and feel. He can thus learn to experience his own body and his immediate surroundings through touch.
teach children run and also hold things, they often start to dig deeper into things. she use objects in different ways and find out what you can do with what. They start building, taking things apart, shaping things while kneading or even painting and designing. It promotes everything creative skills, which can be further supported by external incentives and offers. Also motor skills they are supported as it is spatial imagination.
It also starts more and more as the child progresses inappropriate things, usually around two years. They use blankets and chairs as caves, blocks of wood as horses or cars, and much more. this will be game with symbols she called. The better children’s command of language, the more important it is in play, offering more opportunities to play creatively and imaginatively.
If language continues to gain importance, the game of symbols may become a a role playing game will. That will be too reinforced with other children they played together what social and emotional skills completely retrained and experienced by the child, including the other person in their feelings and perspectives and learning to adopt their perspective, among other things. Here, they can set the rules themselves, and children can process their experiences and feelings in the game.
Over time, children become more interested in it Games that follow clearly defined rules. They can be sports games such as football, handball and the like, but also table and card games. Here too, new incentives are set to drive developments like this forward Dealing with success and failure, victory and defeat.
The game therefore evolves as children grow and as their skills grow. However, the importance of playing always remains in order to gain new experiences, develop skills and process the experiences.
What encourages gaming?
The importance of playing also results from the aspects that are tested and promoted as a result. Some of them have already been mentioned. Followed by a Overview of skills and competencies given, which are supported and challenged by the game it might happen. This list is not final, complete or generally valid, but only shows some aspects that can be tried/gained/trained from playing.
- Self-confidence, self-confidence, self-esteem
- creativity, imagination
- Development of concepts (knowing which object is what and being able to distinguish between objects)
- Learning about physical abilities/motor skills, body awareness/body control, dexterity, enjoyment of movement, coordination
- Logical thinking, spatial imagination
- Processing of experiences/feelings/experiences, preparation for uncertain/new situations (e.g. visiting a doctor)
- sense of responsibility (first for oneself and later for others)
- Social and emotional skills in dealing with others (e.g. empathy, conflict resolution skills, perspective, empathy, helpfulness, etc.)
- ability to solve problems
- Communication skills and vocabulary
- Deal with the rules and follow them
- Dealing with failures and disappointments
- Access to the world, but also retreat from the outside world/reality
The role of parents
So the importance of gaming comes from many aspects. But what role do parents play in this? Above all, you should enough space and time to play clear and ensure children. Above all, they should let children play what they want, because they know best what suits their current interests and needs.
Yet they can proposalssuch as providing painting opportunities, toys and more and together play with the child. For new toys or games, a detailed description should also be included Explanation be planned and have enough time to try out the game together with the child. In the case of child-initiated imaginative play, parents should try to accept the child’s explanations and rules.
Enough too Opportunities for physical/motor play in nature should be given, for example, by going to the playground or a walk in the forest.
They are next security and support Things that parents should provide for children, especially when it comes to active play with other children later on and friendship between children build. Here is one secure fit an important and good foundation of trust.
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