TASK 1

Play promotes learning (intellectually and emotionally) through interaction with the environment.
Creates an understanding of the world and the accumulation of knowledge.
A child learns to categorize and organise events, stimuli and even feelings or thoughts.
A child experiments with different situations or stimuli (often imitating observed behaviour) which is a way for the child to self-educate.
Play stimulates a healthy imagination.
Play may be therapeutic as it can help the child to work through events or feelings which they may have trouble expressing verbally.
Play reflects the true self or personality of a child which may be a method for adults to understand the child better.
Play is a way to learn social skills through interaction with other children or adults or through educational games.
Play is good for a child’s self-esteem as it gives them freedom of choice and the ability to control their level of satisfaction derived from play.

Task 2

A topic which is often under discussion is the importance of play to children in their developmental stage. Studies have shown that play forms a fundamental part of a child’s development. It is important to understand what the term “play” entails. Playing is a way for children to project their personalities. It is a process that is innate and personally/freely chosen. Play is present from childbirth and becomes more intricate and deeper explored with age. As play is cross-cultural and not gender/age bound, it is applicable to all children. An absence of play is often an indication of illness/disability or that children are in a negative environment. There are many different types of play. Some types include social, creative and dramatic play and are methods for children to develop on different levels. The importance of play will further be discussed in this essay, highlighting the positive effects