Function Of Play Essay

1. What is play?

Play is the work of children. In psychology and ethnology, play is defined as "a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities normally associated with recreational pleasure and enjoyment."However, children's play is not only focused on amusement but also provides opportunities to build fundamental life skills. Through play, children can develop physical, emotional, social and cognitive ability as they can increase the intellectual level such as colors, shapes and even language, and also develop communication ability to share emotions such as joy, fear, sorrow and anxiety. These development acquired during all stages of childhood becomes the core building blocks for their adolescence and adulthood and is "fundamental

It is important for caregivers to encourage children while playing, without any limitation of a rule set by adults.

3. Functions of play

In early stage of child development, play frequently reinforces the child's physical and cognitive development.

• Physical development. By repeating certain body movements, children can learn how to control their body. An infant attempting to grasp a toy and once the infant achieved it, he or she becomes aware of using his or her hands and develop the ability to more complex movements.

• Cognitive development. Children gain knowledge through play such as games and puzzles to think, remember and solve problems. Language ability can be strengthened as they organize their thoughts to communicate with others. Educational materials such as books can enhance their understanding and concept of the world.

For children old enough to be engaged in games with rules, their social, emotional and moral development is more emphasized.

• Social development. Playing games with their peers can teach them how to distinguish rules, work as a team, and compete with others. Most importantly, they learn how to interact with different personalities as well as the feeling of winning and losing. Through game playing, children learn how to "relate to others, manage stress and learn

Playing with others as a member of a community, children identify the behavior that is acceptable and unacceptable. Working in a team for a group play, children recognize how to share and understand feelings. The role of parents in this stage is to teach their children to manage aggressive behavior, such as manners in a public place, through role playing or storytelling.

National Institute for Play, established in 2007 based out of New York City, is performing a study on play in the perspective of neuroscience, using "256-lead electroencephalogram." The aim of this study is to objectify the functions of play. Lead by the institute, more objective studies on play are expected to be introduced with science-based results.

4. Conclusion

Play is crucial in developing children's physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral behavior. The role of caregivers during the period is also important to understand appropriate plan to develop the ability of children. Safety is another responsibility of parents for play.

Play is also a sign of good health: if children do not respond spontaneously, it may indicate illness. For the treatment, it may consider adopting certain forms of play according to the types of illness.

Children play for fun and play does not associate particular purpose. If "the purpose is more important than the act of doing it, it is probably not