Benefits of Play

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Emotional benefits include…

• enjoyment, fun, love of life

• relaxation, release of energy, tension reduction

• self-expression

 Developmental benefits include…

 Cognitive development:

• creativity

• abstract thinking

• imagination

• problem-solving

• social cognition, empathy, perspective-taking

• mastering new concepts

 Affective development:

• self-confidence

• self-esteem

• anxiety reduction

• therapeutic effects

 Social development:

• cooperation

• sharing

• turn-taking

• conflict resolution

• leadership skill development (control of impulses and aggressive behavior)

 Physical development:

• gross motor experiences

• fine motor experiences

• physical challenges

• self-help skills

 Attentional development:

• attention regulation

• concentration

• persistence

 Language development:

• communication skills

• vocabulary

• story telling

• emergent literacy

 Educational benefits include…

• providing a meaningful context for children to learn concepts and skills;

• making learning fun and enjoyable;

• encouraging children to explore and discover together and on their own;

• allowing children to extend what they are learning;

• encouraging children to experiment and take risks;

• providing opportunities for collaborative learning with adults and peers;

• allowing for the practice of skills.