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• Unleashing The Magic of Play for a Child’s Development Pathways School Gurgaon
  
  August 30

75%. That's the amount of children below 12 who don't get enough active play in India. In my opinion, the role of play in a child's development cannot be dramatized. It is crucial children take a significant part in their academics, however the leisure time for a child won’t be overlooked. Situations I have come across in India have shown the disadvantages that take place when play is put at stake for solely academics.

Playing has a variety of effects on a child's development. One of them being a child’s improvement in their inclusive participation. After all, children learn best by exploring their environment and engaging. When children play outside it introduces them to concepts such as inclusion and diversity at a young age. Instinctually, children are born to be accepting, but they can inherit wrong opinions on people because of their surroundings.

By introducing children to interact with others with separate backgrounds we can foster an inclusive environment which would lead to a better tomorrow. This could simply take place by accompanying a child to a playground often to ensure their prejudice-free future. When we begin understanding all forms of learning for a child's development, it will cultivate inclusiveness within them.

Another part is based on the cognitive development that takes place by play. Whether it is building blocks, solving a puzzle, or playing with toys, children will learn problem solving, creative thinking, and decision making at a young age. These unique forms of education can teach children to overcome obstacles from childhood only by these playing methods for the development of a child. Play can allow children to learn the concept of trial and error by finding solutions when trying things, they would have never figured out through a textbook.
Parents feel “textbook education” is the only way their child would succeed in life, whereas even doctors and teachers emphasise the need for play in the life of a child. A case in point is how parents used to emphasise the need for knowledge gained by studying. While I'm not implying that it's unimportant, the issue lies within in their prioritisation of IQ over EQ or SQ. Researches have shown interacting with a person who has had more experience playing in their childhood can have a long lasting impression. These children have had a sense of reality and their SQ is higher in regards to children who are mainly studying. Hence, it's tremendously important to introduce play to children.

I interviewed a child psychologist, Dr Kusuma Harish who has had 26+ years of experience. She stated “There are studies that indicate people excel in their academics when they are equally as devoted to playing.” She spoke about how it is tremendously important for children to get into sports and games to keep a well-balanced life between their academics and studies. “I tell this to the parents of young girls like you - all work and no play makes the kid a dull child. You have to study when you have to study but it should not be at the stake of activities.” Dr Kusuma further elaborated on how a child is able to complete homework in more than half the time it would normally take them if they take a break and go out to play. Dr Kusuma also emphasised the improvement in the child’s inclusivity. Playing educates children to share and learn to follow rules. She stresses the urgency towards parents to balance their children’s play and studies.

To sum it up, "Play is the highest form of research.” In which children can learn and extend their knowledge in areas of inclusivity, diversity, and creative thinking skills at a young age. I strongly stand with promoting the significance of play in a child's growth and development.

By Sia Lamba