Why playing with your child is so important?
Elsa Soares
We will write a lot about playing. We love playing. And we know the importance that playing can have in the child’s and the family’s life.
Playing seems simple.
And it really is a simple thing when you are playing and totally enjoying the moment with your child.
But playing allows children to develop really complex skills. That is why you want to—and you should—play with your child as much as possible.
Playing should be natural.
And there are many ways of playing.
The important thing is that, even if during your life dynamic you can only play 10 or 20 minutes, make up your mind to be present in those minutes and forget about everything else.
Children can feel, children can sense.
Playing is not a formal class or teaching session.
Playing brings joy, happiness… just playing, nothing more than that.
And the magic happens.
While we are playing, we naturally engage with the child. We naturally say the names of the objects we are playing with, we naturally make comments, we naturally accept the moments of silence… silence is also important—sometimes we speak too much.
Playing is not asking: What is this? What is that? Where is this? Where is that?
This is not playing.
Playing can be so many things.
Playing can be using imagination to draw and paint—even if we want to paint the sun red. Playing is building small or big things with blocks. Playing is telling stories with enthusiasm and intonation while showing the images in the books. Playing is being in the kitchen using all the utensils and pretending we are making soup. Playing is imagining a boat race while the child is having her bath.
Playing is light.
Playing is needed.
Playing has a huge impact on the brain. It develops very important skills: attention, imitation, communication, language, problem-solving.
And yes, in the beginning, the child may not know how to play, but just by playing, they will learn and develop it.
Today, enjoy your child, enjoy your moments, and just play.
Today, tomorrow, and in every second that you can do that.
Dr. Elsa Marta Soares
Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Specialized in Early Childhood Intervention
PhD in Child Studies