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The Importance of Play
 From the May 2001 Early Childhood newsletter."Play is what kids naturally like to do," says Toni Linder, a professor of child and family studies at the University of Denver and author of numerous publications on the use of play in education and assessment. "It is their natural way of interacting with their enronment." This interaction and enjoyment, explains Dr. Linder, is what makes play so essential to a child’s development and learning process. From infancy to elementary school, play can be used to help children develop cognitive, language, motor, and social skills. Play in Development In infancy, children begin play experiences by moving themselves toward toys and trying to get the toys to move. As they grow, they use toys to explore their environment and communicate with others. They develop social skills as they play with their parents and other children. Dr. Linder emphasizes that play interaction between infants and parents is important in setting the stage for future interactions, exploration, sharing, communication, and problem solving in other play situations. Dr. Linder notes that adults can learn a great deal about children’s learning styles and development by watching them play. By observing how a child plays and seeing, for example, whether he or she prefers doing things alone or with others, or tends to be a leader or follower, we can "learn the modalities they prefer through what they express. Their style of play tells us about the way they learn." Children with disabilities can realize the same benefits from play as typically developing children, Dr. Linder emphasizes. She simply notes that materials may need to be modified, in order to "facilitate purposeful play and help a child play at his or her optimum level." Learning Through Play And play remains an important learning and teaching tool after children start school. Dr. Linder says that play activities can be a valuable teaching tool. She notes that play can be used in a variety of subjects, such as math, literacy, arts, music, and science. Children can act out stories, conduct science experiments, or experiment with different art supplies. Particularly in the area of literacy, says Dr. Linder, play can serve as a powerful motivator to young children. By designing activities such as dramatic representations, drawings, and other playful activities using storybooks, teachers can help children develop literacy skills by building on their interests and current knowledge. Teachers can enhance phonemic awareness by using oral and motor activities that allow children to see and hear letters and sounds and learn to differentiate them. "Play keeps children motivated and keeps their attention on learning, as opposed to worksheets that they may or may not be interested in," says Dr. Linder. "The more play is involved, the more meaningful [learning] is to kids. It’s something they want to do."
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