Through play, children learn how to interact with others and develop all sorts of skills they need in the course life. When it comes to play – we can differentiate it in different directions, and for each of them, the benefits are different and therefore it is good to combine them.

Physical games

Physical games are among the most memorable of childhood. You will hardly forget your child’s first steps, his first fall, etc. Active play, besides being important, should be a must in the daily life of every child, adolescent, that even adult. Active play is crucial for children’s physical development. It helps them improve their coordination, balance, gross motor skills (crawling and walking) and fine motor skills (smaller movements such as picking up objects). Much research has been done on the health benefits of leading an active lifestyle and the same is true for our children. Physically active children tend to be leaner and healthier, while inactivity can lead to a sedentary lifestyle in adulthood, obesity and a range of mental health problems.

In addition, physical games helps children use their natural energy stores and encourages better eating and sleeping habits. Building and encouraging healthy habits is extremely important for a child because it subsequently builds a healthy, disciplined and active adult.

Emotional games

Creating emotion in children in the form of play is key. It is important for them to develop their imagination, to imagine that there is a world where they can start their day with ice cream, no spiders and other dangerous animals. Through play they learn to deal with their emotions while showing fear, frustration, anger and aggression in a situation they control. This is also a great opportunity for them to- practice empathy and understanding of the world. In addition, by using play, you can create a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in your children, with which you will make them more confident.

Social games/skills

Some of the most unforgettable childhood memories are associated with playing with friends. It is these games that teach children how to create and maintain these friendships. Co-operative play helps children hone their social skills as they figure out how to negotiate for the group play. It helps them learn how to cooperate and compromise with others, recognize and respond to others’ feelings, share, show affection, resolve conflicts, and stick to the rules. In turn, these important early lessons help children understand the roles and rules of society. Social skills are crucial not only for forming relationships, but also for further career development. To learn how to behave well is at the heart of social play and developing such skills!

Cognitive games/skills

From birth to the age of three, children’s brains develop at a faster rate than at any other time in their entire lives. This is the period when they begin to learn and truly understand cognitive skills such as paying attention, reasoning, remembering things they have learned and experienced, as well as developing their motor skills.

One of the best ways to stimulate brain development and reinforce your child’s valuable skills is by playing with them, observing them while they explore objects and physical spaces or as they learn to analyze new sights and sounds.

Independent play gives children the opportunity to hone their decision-making skills. Choosing a game, focusing on that activity, and seeing it through to the end is an important element of cognitive control and helps sharpening their planning and attention span skills. And when children are faced with a problem during play, it tests their reasoning and judgement as well as their ability in finding a solution. Various wooden games, puzzles and strategy-based games help strengthen cognitive thinking skills.

Creative games/thinking

When we wish something on our children we often use the expression “Don’t stop dreaming”. With the help of the right games children start to think and become more and more inventive. The game gives them the chance to really let their imaginations run wild and create their own worlds over which they have control. Whether it’s an indoor game or an arts and crafts activity, a game gives children the freedom to explore new possibilities and think outside the box established by parents and friends. It is very important that they have unique ideas as well as creative solutions to the challenges they face.

An active imagination will continue to serve children throughout their lives. According to a recent survey of thousands of CEOs from various fields around the world, they believe that successfully navigating an increasingly complex world will require creativity more than any other management skill. Prepare the next generation of innovators by empowering your children to be themselves and practice the game they are best at.

Communication games/skills

One of the most common problems in adult relationships remains knowing what people mean. For children this is even more complicated, they have to learn to define what people are saying while listening to them, observing their behaviour and gestures. By playing with others, children learn the great art of communication. They begin to recognize facial expressions and body language. They understand how to start and continue conversations and how to express their thoughts and desires in such a way as not to cause problems in the group play.

The pretend play is particularly important for children’s communication and literacy development. The idea that a letter represents a sound is based on symbolism, a concept that children understand when they pretend that a cardboard box is a house or that a shoe is a racing car. The role-play also gives children the opportunity to use words they have heard adults and other children use, and helps to enrich and improve their vocabulary. As they get older, word-based games help strengthen their language skills and literacy.

Communicate and play with your children at any convenient time to get to know and develop them!