“What are you playing, dear?” – A familiar question from parents to their children when playtime comes. Playtime, for preschoolers, is not just entertainment, but also a “training ground” that helps them develop comprehensively in terms of physical, mental, intellectual, and social aspects. So, what’s special about preschool playtime? Why is it so important?
Significant Benefits of Playtime for Preschoolers
Playtime, for preschoolers, is like a colorful “feast,” where they can freely explore, learn, and experience.
1. Physical Development for Children
“Trees need fertile soil to be lush, and people need physical training to be healthy.” Playtime is a wonderful opportunity for children to train physically, improve health, enhance motor skills, and coordinate hand and foot flexibly. Playing physical games like running, chasing, kicking balls, jumping rope,… helps children develop muscles and joints, strengthen the respiratory system, improve balance, train flexibility, and boost immunity.
2. Intellectual Development for Children
Playtime is an ideal “school” to help children train their thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and intellectual development. Playing intellectual games such as puzzles, letter matching, coloring, drawing,… helps children train logical thinking, memory, concentration, imagination, and creativity.
3. Social Development for Children
Playtime is where children can socialize, connect, learn how to interact with friends and peers, and develop life skills. Playing group games such as acting, playing on slides, seesaws,… helps children learn how to cooperate, share, respect friends, know how to resolve conflicts, and develop communication and social skills.
4. Promotes Relaxation and Happiness in Children
Playtime helps children relieve stress, reduce tension, create a happy and comfortable mood, and motivate learning. When children have fun playing, they will love life, love school, love teachers, and love friends.
Important Considerations When Organizing Playtime for Preschoolers
“Play-based learning, learning through play” is the educational motto of many preschools. However, to make playtime most effective, parents and teachers need to consider the following points:
1. Choose Age-Appropriate Games
“What kind of tree, what kind of fruit,” children of each age have different abilities to absorb and different motor skills. Therefore, it is necessary to choose games that are suitable for their age, avoiding games that are too difficult or too easy, and avoiding games that may pose a danger to children.
2. Prepare Playtime Thoroughly
“Prepare thoroughly, the work will be successful.” Before starting playtime, parents and teachers need to prepare tools, toys, locations carefully, ensuring safety and hygiene, creating a comfortable and safe play space for children.
3. Allow Children Freedom to Play
“Let children explore freely, create freely” is essential during playtime. Let children choose their own games and ways of playing, and do not interfere too much in their play activities.
4. Monitor and Support Children When Necessary
“With teachers and friends, learning progresses.” Teachers and parents need to closely monitor children during playtime, promptly support and guide children when necessary, and resolve conflicts that arise between children.
Story of An’s Playtime
Little An is a very active and hyperactive preschool girl. She likes to play physical games like tag, soccer, and slides. She also loves to play intellectual games like puzzles, coloring, and drawing.
Today, during playtime, the teacher organized a game called “The Magic Apple Tree” for the children. The children had to find apples of different colors and arrange them into the shape of an apple tree. An was very excited to participate in the game. She found red, green, yellow, and purple apples and arranged them into a very beautiful apple tree. The teacher praised An for being very smart and creative.
Conclusion
Playtime is an extremely necessary activity for preschoolers. It helps children develop comprehensively in terms of physical, mental, intellectual, and social aspects. Playtime is a “nursery” that sows the seeds of life skills and good values for children. Spend time letting children play, so they can freely explore, learn, and experience.