Why all the fuss about 'Play'?

Scrolling my Facebook, I have countless articles on the topic of 'play'.
Play seems like such a simple topic. Give the kids the toys and they will play.
Whats the big deal?

Well...

Children play in order to understand their world and you could say that this is true for adults too.
However somewhere in our timeline of growing up, play is no longer called play, but called work, leisure, competition etc
When we view play as an expression of children to make sense of their world, giving a child a toy that lights up and makes funny alphabet noises doesn't stack up as something that is worth playing with then. Do you agree?

In the beginning, all babies are content to play with their voice, feet and hands. As the child grows up and becomes a walking, talking member of the family, you will catch them playing in ways that mimic you and the primary caregivers. I'm sure you have all been delighted when your child/children have chosen to clean the floors and wash the dishes. Also during this huge growth period of toddlerdom, children have schemas which need to be expressed, such as ordering, climbing, throwing etc (link below for more information). This is where the 'toys' come into the picture.

Observing your child and seeing what schemas they express can really help you choose 'play objects' that wont just sit in the corner of the playroom. My son would line up all his cars in a row and all his toys need to be neatly put away (lucky for me this sense of positioning is still going strong as he cleans up his toys). He still uses his cars to make car parks, and garages, train stations. So buying him cars and trucks does not go to waste. My daughter, strongly expresses the transporting schema. She loves to fill up cups and jugs and take it to the table. We encourage this as her contribution when setting up the water paints.

Children express more than one schema at one time and change interests as they grow. Observing your child in play will give you lots of clues into what urges they are playing out.

With all the emphasis on children's learning through play, there is one very important point - We adults need not teach anything. We get to relax and have fun, following our child's lead and allowing them to follow their interest and urges.

"When you teach a child something, you take away forever his chance of discovering it himself' 

- Jean Piaget 

Through play children learn language, balance, social etiquette, numbers, reading, different roles in society and the list goes on and on and on.

What a gift we can give to our children when we 'observe more and enjoy most' - Magda Gerber

Be gentle on yourself,
Vanessa






For more information
Schemas: http://www.nature-play.co.uk/blog/schemas-in-childrens-play)