Play forms an integral part of the children's daily lives as it promotes holistic child development. Through play, children have an opportunity to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually (Goncu, & Gaskins, 2012). Social development has a vital role in influencing the enhancement of play. Through social development, children can learn knowledge, values, and skills that empower children to relate effectively in their school and community setting. Therefore, social development provides children with the prerequisites to engage freely in their environment and forging essential relationships that promote interaction through play.
Children engage in different types of play in their environment as they develop. The first type of play that children can participate in is known as unoccupied play. Here the child engages in creative movements with no clear purpose other than just feeling good. It is the most basic type of play that children could engage in. The solitary or independent play is when the child plays alone. It is a vital type of play because it provides the child with a way of staying entertained and also setting a path for self-sufficiency. Younger children engage in onlooker play where they only observe other children playing instead of taking part in the action (Hartley, Frank, & Goldenson, 2013). Parallel play occurs when children, each in their own sphere, engage in different entertaining activities. Other types of play include cooperative and associate play which includes children playing together and playing separately respectively.
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Children can also engage in imitative play which involves their actions in mimicking their parents. Researchers have intimated that this type of play strengthens the bond between the parent and the child. As the children continue to grow, they also start imitating their peers through actions such as sing-along amongst others. Hartley, Frank, and Goldenson (2013) noted that through imitative play, children demonstrate an increased sense of awareness to one another. Another type of play that children engage in especially in their advanced childhood is known as the dramatic play. During the play session, the children can adopt several characters that resonate well with them. A child can for instance take the character of an animal or an inanimate object like a plane. Most researchers have agreed that this is an important way that children can express their inner emotions and develop their cognitive abilities.
Also, critical to understanding is that social and cultural factors play an essential role in influencing the act of children's play. Family members, through physical support and opportunities, enable the child to develop motor-skills vital for their engagement in play. Family members can be partners or an audience as the child plays. They also develop imitative and dramatic play as the child attempts to mimic the persona of their siblings or parents (Goncu, & Gaskins, 2012). Many games that children take part in have a set of rules and standards. It is through the parents that children can gain the discipline and competitiveness required to fit within various types of plays.
Culture influences the type of play that children can adopt. Furthermore, it determines the minimum age acceptable for children to engage in physical activities. The school provides opportunities for the advancement of play through physical education programs (Hartley, Frank, & Goldenson, (2013). It also enhances cooperative play since children can make meaningful friendships with one another and thus play together. The school is essential because it provides the necessary materials required by the child to advance their playing potentials.
References
Goncu, A., & Gaskins, S. (Eds.). (2012). Play and development: Evolutionary, sociocultural, and functional perspectives . Psychology Press.
Hartley, R. E., Frank, L. K., & Goldenson, R. (2013). Understanding children's play . Routledge.
