We believe that play is not only a way of children to have fun and pass time, but also an important part of childhood development. Through play, children develop their physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills. During September, children engaged in several activities that supported their development, which were all free play and based solely on the children’s interests.
One afternoon, Samuel and Owen found Pokémon cards on our school age cart. It immediately sparked their interest and they started sorting the cards by type and strength. On this activity, the boys were able to develop their cognitive and social skills by using math concepts to sort the cards and talking throughout the process, checking with each other and engaging in cooperative play.
During our outdoor time, one of the children’s favourite activities is to swing on the monkey bars. Sometimes, they will go back and forth, skipping one or two bars or even hang upside down, holding themselves by their legs and feet. One of those times, Glorianne and Austin decided to show their abilities. While she was holding by the side going back and forth; Austin first sat on top of the bars and then, hung himself upside down. This activity supports children’s cognitive, physical and emotional development as they problem-solve how to get on the monkey bars or how to do it the way they want it, use their gross motor skills to hang and swing, and develop their self-confidence and independence.
Play is essential for children’s development, nurturing their mind and body. It assists them grow into healthy and well-rounded individuals. Therefore, we include and provide opportunities for both structured and unstructured play every day, allowing them to explore their interests and curiosity while learning in a fun environment.
