The Wonderful World of Play

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PLAY...

Let children play!

With real, three-dimensional objects!

On slides and swings and seesaws.

In sandboxes and dollhouses.

With balls,

modeling clay,

blocks,

action figures,

train sets,

board games, and

crayons.

Play is so important to child development that it has been recognized by the

United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a

RIGHT of every child.

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PLAY…

Provides opportunities for taking on challenges

Tests ideas

Enhances intellectual development

Works on gross and fine motor skills

Increases feelings of mastery

Develops imagination

Provides opportunities to support others and receive support from others

Allows expression of ideas and feelings

Facilitates communication with others

Gives opportunities to practice assertiveness

Assists in skill acquisition

Relieves anxiety

Provides limits

Develops frustration tolerance

Allows re-experiencing and reshaping of frightening, as well as pleasurable, experiences of life

Enhances social competence

Contributes to language acquisition and development

Promotes creativity

Teaches negotiation and compromise

Miniaturizes HUGE things to a manageable size

Facilitates judgment-making

Provides experiences of acceptance

Strengthens self-regulation abilities

Offers opportunities for conflict resolution

Fosters relationships

Produces feelings of JOY!

Let children PLAY!!!