Why Play and Games

Play is Fundamental to your child’s learning and development.
Holistic – simultaneously works on
– Physical
– Cognitive
– Imaginative
– Creative
– Emotional
– Social
  • When children play they are not just ‘having fun’ or ‘messing about’.
  • With every interaction the child is exploring the world.
  • Exploration allows for understanding which enables higher levels of cognitive functioning.
  • Play is how we learn, how we begin to interact, how we test our behaviours, explore our boundaries and learn how the world works.
Is Play Scientific?
  • Children’s developing brains are open to change/stagnation as new neural pathways can still be formed.
  • In Play More neurons fire which is important in the development of new neural pathways.
  • Play leads to the release of opioids and oxytocin so children feel less aggressive/anxious, safe, calm and psychologically strong, and are better able to learn.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Play
  • Overcome behavioural, emotional and social issues
  • Aid social interaction
  • Encourage communication
  • Develop an understanding of oneself and the social world
  • Helping toward better social integration, growth and development.
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Through Play we can
  • Develop logical and creative thinking (cognitive ability) • Improve fine and gross motor skills
  • Develop language and communication
  • Work toward relationship building – developing social and group skills
  • Aid with social, emotional, sensory and behavioural difficulties you child may be facing.
Interest in the World and Self Awareness
  • The child’s engagement with their surroundings and their ability to understand their environment may be hindered by sensory processing issues.
  • Play therapy will engage the child with their surroundings and work through any behavioural or sensory issues, interacting when possible.
Relationship Building
  • The play helps build intimacy as the child begins to recognise faces, sounds and speech.
  • As the child gains greater recognition in these areas, they develop vital cognitive and motor skills that will help with improving communication and building relationships.
Two-Way Communication
  • Play activities can help the child interact in two-way communication
  • Enabling better recognition of cause/effect patterns and problem-solving
  • Helping these areas of cognitive and social development.
Complex and Non Verbal Communication
  • Complex communication can refer to nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions, body language and gestures.
  • Play can help a child figure out the meanings of other people’s nonverbal communication along with developing verbal and non-verbal communication.
Interpreting Emotional Ideas
  • Emotional ideas are a part of abstract thought.
  • Play can help a child interpret these things and engage in pretend play.
Expressing Emotional Thinking
  • Through play, a child may be able to better understand their emotions and the emotions of others.
  • The play can help them develop coping mechanisms for emotional responses to stressful situations.
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