Paper Topic:

Child Development

Child Development

Introduction

Children 's primary way of learning the world is through play . They learn by engaging in solitary play and either by playing with their parents or with their caregivers . Play is not only about having fun but profound meanings lie behind playful activities . Eisenberg (2006 described play as the meaningless expenditure of strength and it is also considered as a result of excessive energy available after people 's basic needs are met . According to her , children are fond of playing because they wanted to let go of the

extra energy they have . Play is a vital need of children for the reason that it can strengthen the instincts that permit them to recognize the necessary skills they need in to survive in the years to come . In the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century , a lot of classical theorists studied the foundation of play and they tried to give explanation on its existence and the role it plays in child development

Importance of Play

Play activities are very important in the development of children . Most of social interactions of children develop in activities that involve play . Children spend most of their time playing with friends than they do in any other activities

The most significant function of play is to assist children to be spirited , able to make alternatives , and perform actions leading to mastery . Play (Bornstein , 2004 ) develops creativity that can be used to solve problems and it helps expand new concepts and ideas . Moreover , it also helps the child to adjust socially and helps prevent emotional problems

Critical opportunities are being provided to children when they engage in play . Studies revealed that there is a critical connection between stimulating activities and brain development . Kenemore (2005 ) in his Child and Adolescent Development Social Work Journal discloses that an assortment of activities provided for children to engage in social play is the greatest instrument for developing through the different social stages . According to him , children learn social rules such as sharing give and take , and cooperation through interrelating with others in play situations . Children also learn to apply moral reasoning in developing a mature sense of values through interacting with other children at different social stages

Sigmund Freud (as cited in Liben , 2006 , viewed play as therapeutic According to him negative feelings that are brought about by distressing events could be released through play and they can be replaced with positive outlooks . For instance , if a child was punished by her parents she can overcome the negative feelings present through playing with her doll and finding comfort in it . Meaning to say , children understand hurting circumstances and look for ways to replace it with pleasant ones through play

Play , Toys , and Developmental Stages

If play is considered as the work of a child , toys are the tools they used . Children learn about themselves , others , and the environment because of the toys they are playing . Toys educate children to figure out how things are made...

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