ApaCenter - Austin Psychology & Assessment Center

In my last blog, I highlighted that importance of play for decreasing childhood stress. I recently reviewed an article titled “Playtime in Peril” by Lean Winerman (published in the September 2009 edition of the Monitor, a publication of the American Psychological Association). As greater and greater emphasis has been placed on high stakes testing, school districts are starting to cut the amount of recess time that students have. Winerman posits that play is important for children’s learning and development. Skills that are learned during play include:
1) Playing with blocks helps children develop spatial and counting skills
2) Listening to stories enriches vocabulary
3) Imaginary play helps children learn to work with others as well as learn how to substitute one object for another, like a hammer for a phone.
4) Playing with toys of different sizes and textures help children learn how to classify as well as expand vocabulary.
While the author is not suggesting that children’s learning should solely consist of free play, she suggests that adequate recess time and access to developmentally appropriate toys are important parts of the school day that should not be completely eliminated. She also highlights that parents can also promote academic success by providing their children with access to a variety of toys and time to play.

Tags: childhood, parenting, Play, Stress