Play is part of everyone’s life!Do you remember when you were a child and you loved going out to play with your friends, or waiting for recess so you could kick a ball around, jump rope, sing songs while trying not to miss a beat in a clapping game? What did you play? Who did you play with? How did you feel? Sometimes it even seemed as if time didn’t exist – we could spend hours playing the same game.Playing means exploring, discovering, understanding and having fun, in most cases. When your children play, they learn about the world they live in, they learn from others and about life in general.Through play, they can try out different ways of being, ways of following the rules – and breaking them.Play is essential for human development. There are as many games as there are people in the world, because all it takes is a bit of imagination and creativity to create a new game in seconds.As a mum or dad, you have the gift of being your children’s first playmate. When you play, you build a bond of trust that helps them feel safe and encourages secure attachment.But what kinds of games can you play that actually support their development?Play should evolve as your children grow, starting with simple games and moving towards games with very specific rules.Some types of games you can share with your children are:Playing with objects, such as balls, or building towers with large blocks and knocking them down.Playing at singing while making big gestures and movements with their hands and legs.Pretend play, imitating characters – this boosts their ability to symbolise and create experiences.Playing at sorting objects by shape and colour.Playing at throwing balls, jumping, climbing or going down slides. Crawling is a type of play that helps them get to know and broaden their sense of the space around them.Playing at inventing stories using simple but fun descriptions.Playing at finding objects or giving clues to find them at home or while you are on your way somewhere.The important thing about play is to have a variety of activities that involve different skills. At the same time, you need to be careful, because too many toys can weaken creativity, motivation and the ability to enjoy things.How do I know I’m enjoying play?According to Imma Marín, author of the book¿Jugamos?(Shall we play?), you can tell you are enjoying play by the kind of attitude you have. A good playful attitude is encouraged when:You put all your senses into what you’re doing.You let yourself be surprised by what happens.You set control aside and decide to enjoy whatever happens.You get involved in the game with passion.You turn difficulty into a challenge.You show initiative and contribute to the game.Put these points into practice when you play with your children and help them enjoy play – make it a moment of joy. Celebrate their achievements, validate their mistakes without judgement and guide them to build frustration tolerance.Through play, your children discover what they are capable of doing and how far they can go. It is a great opportunity to foster self‑confidence and to learn. For this reason, our students, from an early age, explore, learn, solve problems and experiment through play. Our teachers know that play is serious business and use it as an educational tool to prepare them for life beyond school.DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
