The Importance of Play

While play is fun for the child, it has a very serious and important role. Play is the child´s way of connecting with the world. It is the way children experiment, learn about the world, and learn to communicate. It’s a fun way to develop motor skills, imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and mental health.

“Because we are the play things of the Gods, PLAYING is the most serious of our activities.”

— Plato

Play is the foundation of everything that comes later. There are three main functions of play:

1. Play develops confidence and mastery of the world and surroundings
2. Play fosters close emotional bonds with family, caregivers, and friends
3. Play helps children recover from emotional distress

Children who are successful at playing both independently and cooperatively tend to develop into happier, better adjusted adults.

Play is simultaneously a source of relaxation and stimulation for the brain and body.