Play has been shown to have many benefits to your child’s healthy brain development. Through play, children build and strengthen social-emotional and cognitive skills. They have control over their own actions and generally feel safe to express themselves freely, trying out different behaviors or ideas, typically without fears or anxiety. When children play they are practicing activities and scenarios that they encounter in real life and building deep connections in the brain.
To find out more about the benefits of play and what you can do to encourage your child’s play skills take a look this short article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc) 10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play
For more information on healthy development milestones head to our Child Development page
If you have concerns about your child’s development please reach out to their pediatrician and/or contact our partners at Gateways Community Services.