Is play time just as important as reading time?

As a parent you definitely want your children to have the best start in life. You want your children to be healthy and smart.

You often hear that reading books to your children, even from birth, has a profound impact on the way they listen, interact and learn. This is true and many parents make time in their daily routines to read to their children. It’s never too early to start reading to your child.

Toys are often seen as fun and enjoyable, whilst books are seen as the educational gift to give children. Children are often rewarded with a toy rather than a book, as the reaction of the child receiving the toy brings so much joy. To a child, a toy means fun! To an adult, a quality toy should mean education for their child.

The value of play is so very important in the development of your child’s social, cognitive, physical and emotional well-being. The intellectual benefits of play are immeasurable and are not to be underestimated.

To watch a child play gives you a wonderful insight into the minds of little children. Children like to be challenged, stimulated and most of all enjoy what they are doing. By nature, children are inquisitive and have an energy and desire to create, explore, imagine and invent.

Playing with quality educational toys from birth has such important benefits. Whilst many adults might not realise it, children are learning a great deal during their play experiences.

The benefits of play are so significant and it is an almost indisputable fact that children love to play.

The educational benefits of play include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides opportunities for collaborative learning with peers and adults
• Provides a meaningful context to learn new skills and concepts
• Encourages children to explore and discover
• Encourages children to experiment and extend what they already know
• Allows for the practise of new found skills

Along with the educational benefits, there are developmental and emotional benefits that children also experience as they are happily playing.

If a parent or caregiver has the mindset that playing with quality educational toys is as beneficial as reading books to children, then the only challenge is to source quality age appropriate toys and start playing!

This Tree House Blog was written by: Good to Play Toys