“The opposite of play is not work, it is depression,” says Brian Sutton-Smith. The importance of play in early childhood is infinite. Play is a fundamental factor of the learning process, therefore increasing the importance of early childhood education. Children learn and discover through the process of play. Without play children would miss out on such compelling aspects of life such as math, science, language, fairness, hospitality, and social interaction. Through play, children discover their limits, capabilities, talents and interests and also build imagination and friendship.
Dr. Stuart Brown refers to play as a profound biological process. “It has evolved over eons in many animal species to promote survival. It shapes the brain and makes animals smarter and more adaptable. In higher animals, it fosters empathy and makes possible complex social groups. For us, play lies at the core of creativity and innovation (Brown, 5). Brown discusses how we were both made through play and designed for play. He believes that play is our purest form of expression (Brown, 5).
Dr. Brown has discovered through studies that “the ability to play is critical not only to being happy, but also to sustaining social relationships and being a creative, innovative person” (Brown, 6). He compares play to oxygen, as it’s not appreciated until it’s denied. Children play and explore naturally, but as we grow we find it useless in our day to day lives. Dr. Brown states that, “The beneficial effects of getting just a little true play can spread through our lives, actually making us more productive and happier in everything we do” (Brown, 7).
No comments:
Post a Comment