The Value of Play

1
The Value of Play

• By
• Dr. Beverley McKenzie

2
Let us Define Play

• An expression of freedom
• Feeling of liberty
• Players are free agents not pawns
• Choose to play or not
• Directs own actions
• Freedom to quit

3
Value

• Essential to childrens development, health,
  well-being and happiness
• Helps in times of stress or changes in their
  lives
• Children learn through play
• They expand their skills, knowledge and
  understanding of the world.

4
Physical Development

• Active play facilitates sensor motor development
• Prevents overweight
• Develops healthy lifestyle
• Promotes longer attention span

5
Academics

• Helps to develop healthy cognitive growth
• Lays foundation for later academic success
• Provides hands-on experiences
• Helps develop abstract scientific and
  mathematical concepts
• Develops imagination and creative problem-solving
  skills

6
Social and Emotional Learning

• Increase in cooperation, empathy, impulse
  control, conflict resolution, friendliness,
  caring and sharing team building
• Reduces aggression, fights, violence,
• Decreases stress
• Encourages deeper interest

7
Sheer Joy

• Children love to have fun
• Children love to play
• There is laughter, happiness
• There is power and control
• There is enjoyment

8
What Can We Do?

• Allow children to use their imagination
• Encourage outdoor adventure
• Children need time for self-initiated play
• Choose simple toys
• Question? What is the smartest thing a young
  child can do with a computer or TV?
• Answer Play with the box it came in.

9
Become an Advocate for Play

• Spread the word to parents, teachers, school
  officials and policymakers
• Lobby for safe, well-maintained parks and play
  areas in schools, child-care centers and
  communities
• Organize with parents and others to monitor play
  areas
• Help to facilitate an annual PLAY DAY in your
  community.

10
Quotable Quotes

• Play is the beginning of knowledge.
• When kids play they remember. They may not be
  aware they are learning but they sure are aware
  that they are having fun ( Rebecca Brooks)
• Play is the highest expression of human
  development in childhood, for it alone is the
  free expression of what is in a childs soul (
  Friedrich Froebel)