Page 3 - LESSION 11.pmd

Play and Early Learning

11.2 IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

Play is natural for children as it facilitates their growth and development. While
Notes playing, children exercise their limbs, they learn new words and most important
play becomes joyous when there are other children. The presence of other children
enhances the social value of play. During play, childen get the opportunity to
interact with peers, which strengthens social relations.Children learn how to work,
how to obey others and how to be disciplined. Emotional development is the
result of play.
When children play together, they exchange ideas, discuss, argue, share their
thoughts and feelings. All these are essential for their language development. It
increases their power of reasoning, imagination and thinking. They also learn
good habits and values from each other. Children learn about characteristics and
properties of objects, people and animals through play that is helpful for their
social, emotional and cognitive development. Play is the natural method of
teaching children. It is a medium through which they get immediate consequences
of their activities.

Play is a universal phenomena on. It benefits children in their all-round development
and growth. The most important values of play are:
(i) Physical value
Play has a vital role in the physical development of children. During play
different parts of the body are activated. It also serves as an outlet for surplus
energy. If the energy is not spent properly, children can become irritable and
nervous. More than that, it helps proper coordination of muscles, purposeful
movement of arms and legs which determine the general appearance of the
body.

(ii) Social value
Play helps children develop friendly relationships and learn cooperation.
Children get maximum social contact during play and thus learn social
manners, behaviour and ways to solve problems with friends.
(iii) Cognitive value

Play provides children the opportunity to observe, concentrate and experiment,
develop problem solving skills, vocabulary, expression, imagination and
creativity.
(iv) Moral value

Children learn what is right and what is wrong, how to respect elders and
how to behave with peers from the same age group, friends and playmates.
(v) Therapeutic value

Play helps children give way to pent up emotions. Shy children learn to enjoy
themselves with others, while aggressive ones can learn to wait patiently for
their turn. Over-competitive children can learn to accept losses, while those

18 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION