Why Is Play Important for Language Development?

07 May 2019

WHAT IS PLAY?

Play is a child’s work. Play is important for every child’s development and it offers parents the opportunity to connect with their child.

During infancy, play is often directed by the child and the rewards come from within the child. Play is not only enjoyable but spontaneous. It helps the child to learn motor skills and cognitive thinking. Most importantly, play helps your child to develop language and socialization skills. Play allows the child to learn to communicate emotions, to think, be creative and solve problems.

TYPES OF PLAY:

As your child grows and develops, his or her play evolves. There are many different types of play you can use with your child such as: sensorimotor play, associative play, motor-physical play, expressive play, constructive play, social play and pretend play. Besides these types of play, the selection of toys to be used during play is important too.

In choosing the right toys, below are some tips you can consider:

Choose Open-ended toys

Open-ended toys are toys that can be manipulated for different games. For example, Lego can be used to create transportations like a car and spaceship o you can also make buildings like a tower and house.

Gender does not matter.

Do not limit your child's imagination. Let your child explore and boost their creativity by playing all sorts of toys regardless of their gender.

Kiss goodbye to battery operated toys.

It is not wrong to keep some toys with batteries. However, always remember that if children are able to operate the toys by themselves, this will reduce the need for them to ask for help from others and make sounds on their own. For example, by turning on a battery-operated farm toy, the child may no longer need to make the animal sounds as he or she can hear the animal sounds on the toy.

Limit usage of electronic toys.

Gadgets are part of our lifestyle nowadays and we cannot avoid them. However, as parents do set apart screen time for your child. This is because frequent exposure to gadgets can bring negative effects such as hearing loss (exposure to loud noises), childhood obesity (physically less active when playing with the gadgets) and difficulty to focus in learning.

Age is just a number, but it needs to be considered.

As parents or caregivers, learn what captivates children at different ages. Infants and toddlers may like toys that can attract their senses. Some toys that they may like include toys that are bright, have music, can be smelled and touched. Preschool children may prefer pretend play toys such as dolls and doctor sets. Older children on the other hand may prefer realistic toys that they can relate to the real world or their surroundings. These toys include those from 4 the television or movie-related products.

Select toys that require movement to facilitate motor skills development.

Select toys that require movement to facilitate motor skills development. You may consider toys such as balls, hula hoops, or jump ropes to encourage gross motor skills. Additionally, you can look for toys that require more fine motor skills, such as building blocks or puzzles.

These types of toys can enhance hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity. Finally, consider toys that encourage imaginative play, such as dress-up clothes or dollhouses. Imaginative play not only fosters creativity, but also helps develop cognitive and social skills.

Choose toys that are safe.

When choosing toys, it is important to prioritize safety. One should take into consideration the child's age, interests, and abilities when selecting the appropriate toy. Parents should also check the toy for any potential hazards, such as small parts that can be swallowed, sharp edges, or toxic materials.

Additionally, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for assembly and use of the toy, and to regularly inspect it for any signs of wear and tear. By taking these precautions, parents can ensure that their child's playtime is not only fun, but also safe and enjoyable.

The best toy is....YOU.

Sometimes the best toys are not toys at all, it just requires you to be the toy for your child. So, be present for your child even if it is for 5 minutes. Always remember that your child needs two-way interaction for them to understand and make sense of things in their surroundings. Besides that, while playing with your child, do not be afraid to:

1. be silly by making faces and using funny voices
2. sing songs.

 

ADDING LANGUAGE VIA PLAY

Play has been known to develop language (Weisberg et al., 2013). Understanding this fact is meaningless without learning the ways to stimulate language via play. Listed below are some techniques you may use with your child during play in expanding their language skills:

Follow your child's interest.

When your child is interested in a toy, the level of engagement will increase too. An increase in engagement will provide greater opportunities for language acquisition as well.

Do not forget to take turns while playing.

Taking turns is essential to building language skills. When it is your child's turn to communicate, do offer some brief pauses (wait up to 2 or 3 seconds) to allow your child to start the conversation.

Be a role model.

1. by introducing your child to new words (or signs or pictures) during playtime, and then describe what is happening. Children do not learn language by having an adult continually ask them to name various items. They learn by hearing words and linking them to things when you comment on what your child is doing.

2. Expand on your child's message and then add an idea. When you are adding the idea, do highlight the words by:

   a) Using fewer words.

   Always use short, simple, but grammatical sentences when you are talking to your child. This will help your child to understand and remember the words you use besides making it easier for your child to imitate the word when it is highlighted in a shorter sentence

   b) Stress the words. Get your child's attention by making important words stand out by using different tone, pitch or loudness in your voice

   c) Slow down when using the words. Slow down when talking with your child to allow your child time to understand what you are saying Apart from that, give your child a chance to try to say the word too.

   d) Show the words. Young children learn language best when they can see what you are talking about. So, use visual aids by showing or pointing to what you are talking about, add actions, gestures, or signs to your words, and use pictures when necessary.

 

References:

• Pepper, J. and Weitzman, E. It Takes Two to Talk: A Practical Guide for Parents of Children with Language Delays. The Hanen Centre. 2004.
• Ginsburg, KR.The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2007; 119 (1)
• Weisberg, DS.,Zosh, JM., Hirsh-Pasek, K. and Golinkoff, RM. Talking It Up: Play, Language Development, and the Role of Adult Support. American Journal of Play. 2013; 6 (1)
• Oddo, JM., Castleberry, L. The Importance of Play in the Development of Language Skills. Atlanta Speech School. 2013.
• Slutsky, R., Slutsky, M. and DeShelter, LM. Playing with Technology: Is It All Bad? Dimensions of Early Chidlhood. 2014.
• Tips for Choosing Toys for Toddlers. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/tips-for-choosing-toys-for.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
• Choosing the Right Toys for the Right Age. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/choosing-right-toys-for-right-age

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