Kids are very receptive to their surroundings. They pick up visual cues and languages more frequently than you know. They learn and pattern behavioural responses based on what they observe.
Even more so with tech and toys combined, children’s awareness and perception of the world significantly increases.
Giving children time to play is beneficial for their development as it is one of the most effective ways to convey information to them in a manner that adheres to their mental and emotional level of maturity. It also speaks to their imagination, in that it allows them to create—if not accurately put into actions—their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
To help you picture better how it works, here are some ways that playtime and toys affect the brain of growing kids:
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Enhances their imagination
When children play, their imagination is at work. It is as if they are given a blank canvas to work with. They have the chance to be anything or anyone they want to be. They can pretend to be doctors, builders, cops, dragons, wizards, knights, queens, or princesses. They can be superheroes or villains, too. The more their imagination is enhanced, the more they develop creative thinking and critical analysis to solve simple problems.
Helps Regulate Their Emotions
As children spend their time playing with cousins, siblings, and other kids their age, their prefrontal cortex dramatically develops. What happens is their neurons begin to connect more, and it enables them to process new information and comprehend the emotional impact of the people and circumstances around them. They learn about different types of responses to different scenarios and individuals.
Promotes Socialization
Kids need to interact with other people, aside from their parents and their family. It prepares them as they grow older, and it also allows them to build friendships with other children. Children who are often isolated from other kids find it difficult to socialize and form stable relationships once they enter school or become adults. However, the beauty of playing with other kids is they are exposed to the importance of giving and taking, of sharing what they have and caring about other people.
Supports The Formation Of Their Identity
As mentioned, toys help kids express their thoughts and feelings. It is a form of communication tool for them. Since it also gives kids a chance to have a first-hand experience of what it’s like to be indifferent real-life scenarios and take on careers that they would normally see adults take on, they are also being taught to dig deeper into themselves and find out what roles they best identify with. It allows them to assess their skills and explore their interests so that little by little, they begin to formulate key qualities that make them different from other kids.
Leaves a Ripple Effect On All Facets Of A Child’s Learning
There are multiple types of intelligence. These are spatial, intrapersonal, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, existential, linguistic, musical, existential, and logical-mathematical. Tech and toys and interaction with other people and children paves the way for young, bright minds to develop each of the said intelligence. When this happens, they develop their skills and talents.
Children need ample time and the right kind of environment to foster learning and development in them. Likewise, they also need time and attention from their family, especially their parents. That said, as a mother, father, or a guardian, you should always make it a point to spend quality time with your little bundle of joy.
