Child development,forms and types of play

Children aged six to nine years want to try new intellectually and physically stimulating activities and games such as checkers, card games and puzzles.  They also enjoy collecting playing cards, character cards from their favourite television show or video game. Children of this age also find a special attachment to a certain toy or item and have a link between them and the item.

Children aged nine to fourteen years; games and activities become more interesting, sophisticated and symbolic. They usually play in groups instead of being on their own and sports are increasingly played instead of mind games such as a word search. Children of this age like to concentrate and spend most of their time on a specific interest whether it’s music, sport, art or more.

There are three forms of play:

·      Solitary Play – Where children will like or prefer to play by themselves by making up stories with their toys or drawing, painting, reading books, building block and explore their own imagination.

·       Parallel play – This is when children will enjoy playing beside other children without actually engaging and interacting with them. This is common for two to three year olds, they may work on different activities or the same activities but enjoy being around children their own age.

·      Group play – Children aged from three years are able to interact with others, play by themselves and with other children, begin to learn social skills of sharing and taking turns through interactive games and activities. Children of this age start to use or recognize the theme of a game and make up their own themes. They enjoy playing with adults, enabling them to learn new skills and develop their social skills and imagination.

There are five types of play:

·      Physical play – this is physical activity that enables children to develop muscle strength and brain development. Activities may include running games, such as midnight or octopus and sport.

·      Social play – A social play is when a child interacts with other children of their own age group and other ages. Through this type of play children learn about social skills, sharing, cooperation and develop a sense of morals.

·      Constructive play - A constructive play is when a child changes their environment or manipulates it. An example is during building blocks into cities or buildings or making sand castles. It enables children to experiment with different shaped objects to see what works and what doesn’t work. Children learn to manipulate words, shapes, music and ideas.

·      Fantasy play – Fantasy play is when children begin to think outside the box and try out different emotions and language. They tend to use numbers and words to express their own ideas and use abstraction in their play.

·      Games with rules – This involves children playing games with rules such as soccer, hockey or Simon says. It helps them understand that rules are a part of life and need to be important. Children become connected to the need for rules through this type of play.

Ten toys that will keep children occupied for quite a while:

1.     Blocks/building blocks

2.     Dolls and stuffed animals

3.     Play-doh

4.     Wagons

5.     Art – painting, drawing, colouring, making clay figures

6.     Musical instruments

7.     Gardening or housekeeping – imitating adults

8.     Sand box

9.     Dress up clothes

1. Balls

Child Development Info 2012, http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/, viewed 26/3/12

 Child Development Info 2012, http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/school-age-children-development-parenting-tips.shtml viewed 26/3/12

Child Development Info 2012, http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/toys-keep-attention.shtml, viewed 26/3/12

Child Development Info 2012, http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/pl1.shtml, viewed 26/3/12