Page 4 - Perspective Newsletter Cover 2012 Summer v7

From the day life begins, children are like little explorers
determined to understand everything about the world. They can learn a lot from
you and, believe it or not, just
from playing with you. Play is an essential piece of a child’s development and learning. Research and early education professionals agree that play acts as both “work and school” for infants and toddlers.
All forms of play – rolling, running,
climbing, pushing, falling, tumbling,
crawling, jumping, dancing,
laughing – give children the
opportunities they need for optimum development from physical and language to social and emotional. Play helps a child:
• Be active!
• Build positive self-esteem
• Establish healthy social relationships
• Deal with setbacks and conflict
• Have a sense of control
• Understand and care about others
• Be creative and imaginative
• Develop a sense of well being and be
physically coordinated
Think about the positive actions you witness when children are playing – they move around, learn to communicate, share and take direction. Playing is also a way children are introduced to conflict and problem solving. If a child plays with an object such as a block puzzle, he or she may have some challenges making the puzzle fit. For a toddler, making a puzzle fit is a way to practice critical thinking.
Remember that the most important part of play is to have fun and create lasting memories!
The Child Care Resource Center supports and encourages safe play at all times. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to provide appropriate adult supervision at all times. For more information on children’s growth and development, contact the Resource & Referral Department at 818-717-1000 to speak with a child development specialist.
Learn more on this topic by visiting zerotothree.org and NAEYC.org.