Children

“Children need the freedom and time to play.  Play is not a luxury.  Play is a necessity.”   ~Kay Renfield Jamison

Children grow and learn through play from the time they are born. They learn hand-eye coordination, they learn to respond and engage with others, and they learn cause and effect. Learning continues as the child continues to play. Their social, physical, emotional, and cognitive skills are greatly impacted by playing. They need to run, jump, skip, etc. in order to build their muscles and develop gross motor skills. Playing with other children helps children increase their vocabulary and can help build their self-esteem. Cognitive development is impacted because they use problem solving skills during play time. Play time is so valuable for a child’s development. They need the freedom to explore and play without someone telling them what to do and how to do it. I do think children need limits and there should be rules. If we constantly tell them what to play, then they are not getting to truly explore and learn from their choices and actions. Their learning is going to be beneficial if they learn it through cause and effect or trial and error. Those lessons are more meaningful and memorable.

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