class & program
the importance of play in a digital world Traditional play can provide lasting benefits for children. By Sarah Lyons Play comes naturally to kids. They use it as a way to express their feelings and learn new things. Electronics, video games, laptops, smartphones, and TV can easily take over your children’s free time. It is important to be intentional about creating opportunities where your children can play freely, use their imaginations, and have fun! Traditional play can provide the following lasting benefits for children: Social skills and leadership development. Children learn valuable social skills that will help them be successful as they grow. By taking turns, sharing, and interacting with others, they are learning how to appropriately respond to others. During play, they are able to practice both their verbal and nonverbal communication skills. They also learn to negotiate when things don’t go as planned. Experimenting with different roles in your family and community as they pretend to play house, school, or store helps them gain insight into the world around them and interpret the feelings of others. Motor skills development. Children develop fine motor skills through play. Using crayons to color a picture helps develop fine motor skills. Other activities that help develop fine motor skills are playing with play doh, practicing scissoring, stringing beads, and
"It is vital to provide a child with adequate playtime in their day, especially with all the distractions in today’s digital world." using lacing cards. Gross motor skills are also developed during playtime. Games like tag or hopscotch integrate the large muscle movement, which helps children gain balance and spatial relationship to the world. Playing and climbing at the playground helps kids learn to use their bodies and provides vital exercise. Problem-solving skills and emotional development. Kids can work through their emotions by simplifying situations through play. This helps them express their feelings and regain control. Play supports emotional development by providing a way to express and cope with their feelings. Kids may act out something that scared them, like a car accident they saw while driving
past. They may also play out something they are not allowed to do and then work through the consequences through play. “Play can be a safe outlet to work through situations that cause them anxiety, such as starting school or visiting the doctor. Letting the child take on the role of the authority figure will help them process how events may unfold,” says Kara Thomas, an early childhood education educator. Development of imagination. Play builds a child’s imagination. You can help your child with imaginative play by role-playing with them. Call them on the pretend phone, ask them to cook you lunch in the play kitchen, or have them use the doctor kit to do a checkup on you. Engage them in conversation while you act out these scenarios. Often, you will be surprised at their perceptions. By role- playing, they learn to better understand their surroundings and build their imagination. Traditional playtime allows kids to work through their emotions in a healthy way and develop important skills. It is vital to provide a child with adequate playtime in their day, especially with all the distractions in today’s digital world. The best part is, your kids will be having so much fun, they won’t realize they are learning. Sarah is a mom of six children, including triplets. CCM
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FULL YEAR REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR AGES 3 TO ADULT IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE
COVID-19 safety protocols are in place • Limited class size to ensure physical distancing. • Mask use in all common areas. • Symptom screening prior to student and staff arrival. • Increased sanitation after each class and on all high touch surfaces.
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