Play and the Developmental Domains

As we've already discussed many times in this blog (because it's so important) play is an essential part of our children's healthy development.

During play, children are using all their senses and improving all of their developmental domains: social, physical, language, intellectual, creative and emotional.

Just look at what skills children are learning while 'just playing' at the playground:

• Social skills: while playing with others, children start understanding social cues, learning to negotiate.

• Physical skills: running, climbing, jumping, shoveling and dumping sand build strong muscles, body awareness, coordination.

• Language skills: deciding on games, talking about how to play, asking questions.

• Intellectual skills: sharing space and toys, solving problems, creating game rules.

• Creative skills: through make believe play, singing, dancing.

• Emotional skills: by negotiating, expressing and communicating emotions, practicing self-regulation.

So as you can see, the play is not just play! All the games and activities are vital to laying the foundation for our children’s future and formal education. The next time when someone asks, ‘What are your children doing all morning?’ and you answer, ‘they are just playing,” that answer will have a different value in it, and you will start noticing all the wonderful learning that is happening during the play.

Read more about learning through play in these blog posts:

• Children don't need fancy or expensive toys to learn

• Environment is the third teacher

• What is risky play? Is my child safe?

Come play with us! Join our drop-in Parent and Child play groups every weekday. Find the schedule and more information here.

Stay up to date with play group schedules, parent education classes and more by signing up for our newsletter here.

Norwood Child and Family Resource Centre has supported vulnerable children, youth and families in Edmonton for more than 60 years.  We provide free programming that supports optimal child development, strengthens healthy relationships and well-being, breaks cycles of adversity, empowers people to successfully navigate change and life challenges, and connects people to communities.  Norwood Centre is inclusive and respectful of diversity, recognizing that each family is unique. Our work is strength-based, trauma informed and responsive to the needs of our participants.

Our team of qualified Early Childhood Development Subject Matter Experts works to provide tools that caregivers can use to support early childhood development. We hear you! If you have a question or concern, please ask us. We have a variety of Child Development Activities available on our website, including the topics of Social Development, Physical Development, Language Development, Intellectual Development, Creative Development and Emotional Development. Find them at norwoodcentre.com/child-development-activities. For short-term one-on-one coaching, please call us at 780-471-3737.