Palejowe ABC - FUN

Moreover, play occurs not only in humans, but also in animals. By imitating older human or animal toddlers learn to cope with the world and acquire necessary skills. Play helps children understand, discover and organize the world. It tames fears and anxieties, and plays an important role in building self-image and establishing relationships with other people. It teaches how to organize time and nurture creativity, as well as supports physical development. Its absence hinders the development of imagination and interferes with social and emotional development.

Play is a wonderful means of relieving perceived stress. Depriving a child of the opportunity to play slows down the process of regulating emotions and achieving balance.

Children benefit most from spontaneous play that is not guided or modified by adults. This is also when they can enjoy it to the fullest.

The last decade or so has seen spontaneous play being displaced by organized activities. They, too, are necessary, but it is important to make sure that the child's schedule includes time for free activity, which the child can lead according to his own needs, interests and the emotional state he is in.

Watching young children, we can often come across a picture where a toddler enthusiastically and energetically plays with everyday objects, and even more eagerly - a shopping carton. Children eagerly reach for such equipment, because they can let their imagination run wild and create their own stories. Ready-made toys look beautiful and have many different functions - but it turns out that children choose simplicity, because it's what allows them to have interesting fun. Among other reasons, this is why it so often happens that meticulously chosen toys lie languidly in a corner and after the first, albeit short, wave of delight they cease to interest the child. In fact, this is positive news, because we do not need expensive and elaborate toys for a child to develop well and spend time on creative play. Often for this purpose, all that is needed is the previously mentioned cardboard box, bubble wrap, a few twigs collected during a walk and a spoon with which to hit the pot.

In order to get to know more about the child's world and what's currently going on in their lives, it's a good idea to join in the fun every now and then and step into a role suggested by the child. It's also a great opportunity to help the child tame the fears he or she is facing. By engaging in role-playing, we show the child how he can deal with difficulties. This also gives us the opportunity to find out what the toddler thinks about certain issues and how he understands them. With the help of play, we can prepare the child for the upcoming changes in his life. By showing the whole process of hospital stay and treatment using plush toys, blocks, toy cars or other favorite toys of the child, we gently introduce him to the topic and give him a chance to ask questions.

In play, the child has the opportunity to organize the information and understand it, so that the upcoming event is no longer so frightening. In the case of children who are temporarily or permanently unable to move like their peers, plus constantly having to follow instructions (whether at home, at the doctor's office or during physiotherapy), there can be a sense of helplessness, but also anger due to a lack of control over what they want and can do. Here, too, play can be helpful, in which command is given over to the child so that they can feel that in some area of their lives they can decide and choose for themselves. This sense of agency can translate into better and calmer functioning in everyday life when that choice and agency is limited.

Children who, for various reasons, have limited physical activity are subject to increased stress levels. They can't relieve tension through movement, so tension accumulates in the body. It is therefore worth encouraging the child to play and to join in when he needs our support. Irritation, nervousness and frustration are often evident in play - the child is trying to cope with what he is experiencing in this way. This may manifest itself in playing out aggressive scenes. Allow the child to do this. As long as he doesn't hurt himself or others in play, let him have the opportunity to work through his worries in a safe play environment.

Whenever we can, let's encourage children to play outside. Exposure to sunlight (even on a cloudy day) has a positive effect not only on mood, but also regulates the sleep-wake cycle. In addition, contact with nature has a soothing and calming effect on the nervous system, and inspires play with objects we find around us.

By playing together with the child, we give him a clear signal that he is important to us and we want to spend time with him. In this way, we strengthen mutual bonds and build a sense of security and self-esteem in the child.

The source of knowledge and inspiration that led to this article:

Wang S., Aamodt S. (2012), Play, Stress, and the Learning Brain, Cerebrum