Parents and caregivers know the joy of watching children erupt in laughter as they swing, slide, and explore their local playground. But beyond the smiles and surface fun, there's a whole world of learning and development happening during playtime.
Play is an essential part of a child's development, and parents must understand its importance.
“There is no division for children between play and learning, which makes play central to a child’s development, confidence, and well-being,” explains the Benjamin Franklin International School. “Play enables children to make connections with the world around them, develop socially, as they move through the different stages of play, and build relationships and language skills through these interactions.”
There are many different types of early childhood play, both indoors and outdoors.
“Children will participate in many different types of play as they grow. This includes the six stages of play outlined by sociologist Mildred Parten in 1932: unoccupied play, solitary play, onlooker play, parallel play, associative play, and cooperative play,” says Parents magazine. “According to Parten’s research, children progress through these six stages before they’re 5 years old. Once they master them, they’ll try out other types of play that fall into those categories, including competitive play, dramatic play, and more.”
The Importance of Early Childhood Play
Early childhood play serves as a cornerstone for holistic development. Here's why it's so crucial:
- Cognitive Development:
- Enhances problem-solving skills.
- Encourages creativity and imagination.
- Promotes language development through storytelling and role-playing.
- Social Development:
- Fosters cooperation and teamwork.
- Builds empathy and understanding of others' emotions.
- Helps in developing communication skills.
- Emotional Development:
- Provides a safe outlet for expressing emotions.
- Teaches resilience and coping mechanisms.
- Promotes self-regulation and emotional intelligence.
- Physical Development:
- Improves gross and fine motor skills.
- Enhances balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.
- Promotes overall health and well-being.
The Benefits of Early Childhood Play
The benefits of early childhood play extend far beyond mere amusement:
- Cognitive Development: Play helps children develop critical thinking, memory, and language skills. Through play, children learn to make sense of the world around them and develop their understanding of cause and effect.
- Social and Emotional Skills: Play provides opportunities for children to interact with others, learn to share, take turns, and develop empathy. It also helps them express their emotions and learn to regulate their feelings.
- Physical Development: Play encourages children to be physically active, developing their gross and fine motor skills. Running, jumping, climbing, and manipulating objects all contribute to a child's physical development.
- Creativity and Imagination: Play allows children to explore their creativity and imagination. They can create their own stories, characters, and scenarios, fostering their ability to think outside the box.
Different Types of Early Childhood Play
There is no standard definition of early childhood play and children may experience different types of play at different ages.
“Every kid develops at their own pace and may engage in these various kinds of play earlier or later. While the stages of play are progressive, they often occur simultaneously. A child may not leave one type of play behind when they move on to the next one,” says Parents.
The Parents magazine argued identified 11 types of play to look for:
- Unoccupied Play: Newborns (ages 1 to 3 months) make random body movements out of curiosity as they explore their new world.
- Independent/Solitary Play: From newborn to 2 years children do not interact with others when playing very much but keep to themselves.
- Symbolic Play: Toddlers will often experiment using one object to represent something else.
- Onlooker Play: Toddlers will watch others play, helping teach themselves how to play and interact with others.
- Parallel Play: Ages 2 to 3 will often see children playing side-by-side but not necessarily together.
- Associative Play: Ages 3 to 4 children become interested in the actions of others and start engaging while still playing mainly by themselves.
- Cooperative Play: Ages 4 to 5 children often start playing with each other.
- Dramatic or Fantasy Play: Children use their imagination to play pretend, make-believe, and other open-ended play scenarios.
- Competitive Play: Organized activities with winners such as family board games and sports.
- Physical Play: This play does not have to be competitive but can include throwing a ball, riding a bike, dancing to music, and other movements.
- Constructive Play: Children create something with materials.
Types of Early Childhood Play Found at the Playground
At Churchich Recreation & Design we see all types of early childhood play at the playgrounds we build for communities. Here are some of the most common:
- Solitary Play: This type of play involves a child playing alone, exploring their environment, and engaging with toys or objects independently. Examples include playing with blocks, solving puzzles, or coloring.
- Parallel Play: In this type of play, children play alongside each other but not necessarily with each other. They may be engaged in similar activities but are not interacting directly. Examples include two children playing with their own sets of toys in the same area.
- Associative Play: This type of play involves children playing together, but each child is still focused on their own activity. They may share toys or materials but are not working towards a common goal. Examples include children building separate structures with blocks but sharing the same set of blocks.
- Cooperative Play: In cooperative play, children work together towards a common goal. They may take on different roles, share ideas, and collaborate to complete a task. Examples include children working together to build a large sandcastle or creating a dramatic play scenario.
- Unstructured, Open-Ended Play: This is free-flowing, child-directed play where imagination takes center stage. A simple wooden climbing structure becomes a pirate ship, a castle, or a daring mountain peak.
- Pretend Play (Sociodramatic Play): This world of make-believe allows children to act out roles, create stories, and explore emotions. Tea parties, building forts, and playing doctor are all examples of pretend play.
- Sensory Play: Engaging the senses is vital for early development. Children explore textures, sounds, smells, and tastes through this type of play. Building sandcastles, splashing in water features, or rolling down a grassy hill are all sensory experiences.
Designing Playgrounds to Facilitate Different Types of Play
Creating playgrounds that cater to diverse types of play can maximize children's developmental opportunities.
The best playgrounds offer a balance of these different play types. By understanding how children play, we can create spaces that not only entertain but also nurture their growth and development.
Here are some tips for designing playground to facilitate different types of play:
- Include elements such as sensory tables, manipulative panels, and individual play structures that allow children to explore and engage independently.
- Provide multiple sets of similar equipment, such as swings or slides, to allow children to play alongside each other without direct interaction.
- Include open-ended play elements, such as large building blocks or loose parts, that encourage children to share materials and engage in similar activities.
- Design play areas that foster collaboration, such as themed play structures (e.g., pirate ship or castle) or group swings that require children to work together.
- Include a play kitchen, a pretend grocery store, or a designated "dramatic play" area with costumes and props.
- Include a variety of textures in the playground environment – soft rubber surfacing under climbers, a water play area, a sensory garden with fragrant plants, and musical instruments that children can explore.
- Design imaginative spaces: Integrate themed play areas like pirate ships, castles, or space stations to stimulate imaginative play and storytelling.
“Diverse types of play hold the key to unlocking kids’ learning potential. With the right tools, kids can actively create their own learning experiences through the various stages of play. Setting up a playground that incorporates various features can accommodate the different play types,” says Miracle Recreation.
By incorporating these different types of play elements into playground designs, we can create spaces that cater to the diverse needs and interests of children.
Contact Churchich today for help in creating a one-of-a-kind playground experience for your community that will encourage all types of early childhood play.