When looking at play in childhood in regards to childhood development, it is important for this to occur in order for children to bond. When play occurs, it allows for an opportunity for parents to develop a deeper relationship with their child. The action of play assists children in understanding how the family functions and what can be expected of the child . By establishing play time, the parents will be able to guide their child from infancy into adulthood with a connection and level of trust.One of the most important factors that benefits from play is the development of social, motor, and cognitive skills in the child . This is promoted not only through play with the parent, but also with other children. It is simple to provide toys, or other entertainment devices, to bring children together and assist in creating a fun playtime. This also allows for the child to understand that playing, or relaxing, is an important part in life. This also assists in the child understanding how to interact with other people outside of their family.
There has been proof in research that most of the brain development occurs after the child is born. Therefore, play assists in providing an effective stimulation during the most critical part of development for a child. Play is a catalyst for nerve cells creating connections in the child’s brain. Furthermore, fine motor skills, such as holding a pen, are developed through play. Another skill is gross motor skills, which allows for development of language and appropriate social skills that can be employed even at a young age. Overall, play is the foundation for a child understanding how to interact with the world and understand how the world will interact with it.
- Lundahl, B. W., & Hull, G. (2014). Major Life Phases Influencing Human Behavior: Childhood. In B. W. Lundahl, & G. Hull, Applied Human Behavior in the Social Environment (pp. 220–238).
- Lundahl, B.W., & Hull, G. Applied Human Behavior in the Social Environment (pp. 147–168).
