Manhattan Beach Preschool - What is the importance of playtime for toddlers?

1. What is the importance of playtime for toddlers? Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers The importance of play in early childhood cannot be underestimated because playing is essential to a child’s growth. 1. Spark Creative Thinking Perhaps the most obvious benefit of playing is that it increases a child’s creativity. Creativity is closely tied to divergent thinking, which explores many possible solutions and typically generates creative ideas. Many studies have found that playing is highly associated with divergent thinking. 2. Improve Communication, Vocabulary, and Language The link between early play and later communication skills is evident in research, too. Pretend-play is especially beneficial because it allows young children to practice their vocabulary when they speak and try to understand others. During social play, they often reciprocate each other’s words and actions to reach agreements. 3. Grow Social Competence and Empathy Playing is crucial in enhancing social development in children. Unstructured active play with others – including parents, siblings, and peers – is a significant opportunity to cultivate social skills. While playing, the act of pretending as well as negotiating with peers enhances children’s social skills. Playing also provides opportunities for children to learn social interaction. While playing together, children learn to cooperate, follow the rules, develop self-control, and generally get along with other people. 4. Play teaches adults patience and understanding. If you do choose to join in your child’s play make sure that you do not try to take it over and force incorporation of your ultimate learning objectives into their play. Structured adult-led activities have their time and place but remember to allow for time for children to control and decide their own play.

2. 5. Play gives children a choice. Having enough toys or activities to choose from will allow children to express themselves. More on 3 Year Old Schedule at Manhattan Beach can be found here. https://www.growinggardenpreschool.com/classes/classes-3-year-old-class/ More on 2 Year Old-Schedule at Manhattan Beach can be found here. https://www.growinggardenpreschool.com/classes/classes-2-year-old-class/ #hermosabeachpreschool, #manhattanbeachpreschool, #redondobeachpreschool, #reggioemiliacurriculum, #preschoolsinmanhattanbeach, #growinggardenpreschool, #northtorrancepreschool, #elsegundopreschool