Posted: September 5, 2021 by aadams

September 2021 Young Children Newsletter

The Importance of play in early childhood

Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children.

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development.

Play is an essential and critical part of all children’s development. Play starts in the child’s infancy and ideally, continues throughout his or her life. Play is how children learn to socialize, to think, to solve problems, to mature and most importantly, to have fun. Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their parents and family and the world.

Play supports the development of self-control which is critical for success later in life. Children play because they have a deep desire to understand the world. Play allows opportunities for them to regulate their feelings, delay gratification, and negotiate with others, all important aspects of developing self-control.

WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?

Build or renovate/update a playground in your community park or at a local school.

Kiwanis International has a partnership with LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC. which has been creating innovative playground equipment since 1971. Think of the impact your club could make in your community with a playground “build” as a signature project. Ask your members if giving children a place to play is the right project for your club.

For information go to:

landscapearchitect.com

Provide educational games at your community center or donate them to teachers of preschool programs or kindergarten classrooms.

Become at advocate for free, quality preschool education in your community.

Every child deserves quality preschool opportunities for maximum brain development enabling them eventually to become successful functioning adults in society.

For more information on the importance of play in early childhood go to: