Playing alongside other kids could offer your child many benefits.
It is easy to get lost in an imaginative play world when it comes to toys. A world where princes come to life and slay the scary dragon, where the battles of pirates vs. ninjas can be lived out in front of epic castles, and your best friends are stuffed bears and dinosaurs. It is these creative story lines which kids imagine in their heads that keep them distracted for hours in their own magical little worlds.
However, while a child’s imagination and independence during play time is something to always been encouraged, there are also many developmental benefits that can come with group play.
Group play, or any kind of play that involves two or more individuals, is some of the most memorable and joyous moments of childhood. This type of play helps to fulfill interactive experiences for children by acting them out with their friends or family, while also helping to teach kids about group dynamics and how they should learn to work collaboratively.
A child that spends time playing and sharing with other children also will learn a healthy message of teamwork through understanding others and positive interaction.
While individual play time with educational toys can go a long way towards improving your child’s basic senses and overall development, here are just a few key outcomes that your child can benefit from when they get involved in group play:
Promotes Interaction With Others
When children play alongside other kids in group play setting, they learn a large amount of social roles and cultural rules that they might not otherwise experience until they are older. For instance, they develop appropriate cooperation skills and a shared system of symbols, including subtle verbal cues and body language. Interacting with other children their own age also helps kid build friendships, learn to respect others and learn to resolve personal conflicts.
Encouragement To Work Collaboratively
One of the most beneficial aspects of group play for children is that they learn to understand how their input is essential to the successful outcome of the whole group. For instance, if a group of children are working on a puzzle or building something out of blocks, each person’s piece of the puzzle contributed to the overall completion of their creation. Working in a group also teaches kids to work collaboratively and share ideas within the group.
Improved Sense Of Self
A child who is shy or unsure of themselves will not gain confidence if they are always on their own. However, becoming part of a group will help a child become more confident with themselves and will improve their overall sense of self in the long run. Plus, creating an environment and social client where children are able to express themselves freely among their peers and have their ideas accepted will also allow a child to discover where they fit in a group setting.
Do you agree that group play can offer many developmental benefits for children? Do you have any fun stories of your child working with others to successfully complete a difficult task? Be sure to share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.