Learning Through Play: 4 Common Games and How They Teach Your Children

It's important to realize that the act of a child playing is much more than a chance for them to entertain themselves (and stay busy while you get things done). In fact, the act of playing is an extremely vital part of a growing child's lifea natural process that allows them to develop the skills they need as they go through life. Look at just about any activity that children engage in and you'll find this is true, but let's just look at a 4 of them for now.

1. Playing With Blocks

Playing with blocks is a regular activity that seems to capture just about any child's imagination, and fortunately, it does a lot for them as well. Studies show that playing with blocks helps a child to develop a scientific understanding of the world and how the laws of physics apply. It also gives them a chance to create something out of nothing and the simple fact that other kids are also so drawn towards the blocks creates an opportunity for learning how to work with and communicate with peers. Children who spend a lot of time doing things like this tend to excel at math and science later in life.

2. Acting/ Imagination games

Kids love to pretend, and if you watch them you'll always see them playing games where they mimic being adults. They may have their own television show, they may have mock battles in the woods, they may play as parents, and they may act out the role of a common job we see in adult society. There really is no limit to the task a child's imagination will take on.

All this pretending gives them the opportunity to not only strengthen their creative skills, making just about any household product into whatever they want it to be, but it also teaches them focus, concentration, and applied effort. If you watch them, you'll see they put real effort into mimicking the tasks at hand as if they were real, and through this they will walk through the most laborious details.

3. Art

Arts and crafts give children the freedom to invent anything they want, and through that they learn that the world is theirs for the making. This is a good lesson for any child, and many who fall in love with their art at a young age will become artists for a lifetime.

4. Putting it All Away

Even the act of putting everything away when they are done can become a game for a child, as it should, and it's just as beneficial. While older children scoff and whine when chores are given to them, a younger child doesn't really see the difference, and encouraging this early on allows us to help them build great work ethics and a sense of responsibility before they ever have the chance to tire of it all.

5. Playing Outside

It's amazing how simply opening the doors and setting them free can open up a world of possibilities for children, who will run around swinging on anything high enough to reach, dig holes in the garden for no apparent reason (not to you anywaythey could be on their way to China), or play a game of tag.

This type of play is great for developing strength, coordination, motor skills, endurance, and balancenot to mention all the other benefits derived from the different games played. Outside play gives children the exercise they absolutely need. This is just a small handful of the types of activities children love and how they benefit them, but you can come up with plenty on your own. Just think back to when you were a child and what type of play captured your mind and kept you running until you dropped.