Children thrive on play! It’s more than just fun; it’s vital to their growth, particularly in early infancy. Structured play, specifically, is important for children’s development and learning.
At Bright Beginnings Learning Centre, we incorporate structured physical play into our curriculum. We aim to help children under the age of six develop physically, mentally, and socially.
But what exactly is structured physical play? And why is it so important for children?
What is Structured Physical Play?
Planned and supervised physical play with a clear objective is structured play. But how is it different from unstructured play?
Where unstructured play allows kids to make up their own games without a set goal. An adult supervises structured play to ensure kids develop particular skills.
Consider exercises like;
- Dance routines
- Guided sports
- Solving puzzles
- Obstacle courses
These informative games teach kids how to follow directions and develop collaborative skills.
Physical Development Benefits
Regular physical activity is also beneficial to overall health and well-being. It helps to create healthy habits from an early age.
Structured physical play is excellent for improving children’s gross motor skills. It is the ability to control large muscles during running, jumping, and balancing. Activities like climbing, racing, and playing ball games can help them develop their coordination, balance, and strength.
It improves gross motor abilities and supports fine motor skill development. For example, threading beads or playing with building blocks requires precise hand and finger movements. It improves hand skills and eye-hand coordination.
Cognitive Development
Physical play is more than just moving about. It’s also an excellent way to improve cognitive abilities. At Bright Beginnings Learning Centre, we use controlled physical play to help children solve issues and make decisions.
Our activities are meant to help children develop important cognitive skills such as:
- Strategising and thinking ahead
- Remembering instructions and sequences
- Enhancing memory
- Improving focus and attention
Social and Emotional Benefits
Learning is more than simply what happens in the classroom; it also includes building connections and learning how to communicate with others. Bright Beginnings helps children develop important social and emotional skills through structured play in a secure setting with their peers.
Our activities help youngsters develop crucial social skills like:
- Effective communication
- Sharing stories
- Conflict resolution
- Taking turns
- Handling competition
- Understanding fairness
Incorporating at Home
Providing opportunities for structured physical play at home can be both enjoyable and useful to your child’s development. Here are some easy activities that you can set up:
- Mini Obstacle Courses: Use pillows and small chairs to set up a small obstacle course.
- Dance Routines: Create simple dance moves to your child’s favourite songs.
- Ball Games: Practice throwing and catching with a softball.
Structured physical play has numerous advantages for young children. Not only does it improve motor skills, it also enhances cognitive ability and social skills.
At Bright Beginnings Learning Centre, we believe that structured play may help shape a child’s future. Our engaging environment and compassionate staff make physical play an essential part of your child’s learning experience.
Ready to see the benefits of structured physical play in action? Schedule your visit to Bright Beginnings Learning Centre now to learn how we can help your child grow.
