
Isn’t it amazing how many different ways children find to play together? From physical, rough-and-tumble play, to pretend play with lots of different toys, to games with shared goals and rules (rules that can change quickly when things don’t quite go as little ones might have wished!). There are many forms of social play, but they all involve interaction with other children or adults. In a way, the different types of social play could be seen as mirroring the development of children’s abilities to engage with others. When we watch children play together, their interactions can seem entirely fun-filled and almost effortless, but joining in with others for play isn't always as simple as it may seem from the outside. It requires some remarkable skills on the part of the players. Social play offers a relatively safe context for children to develop their social and emotional skills, including the development of:
| social play, these skills can be observed when children’s play isn't quite going the way they want it to. They may propose a new game or introduce a new rule, which their playmate doesn't agree with. Dealing with a play partner who disagrees with their ideas can give children good practice in managing conflict. This might help them to respond appropriately in other situations that are not related to play.
The tricky part about researching social play and children’s development is that they often complement each other. So, the more children play together, the more opportunities they have to progress with their social development. At the same time, they need to have developed some level of social skills before they can actively interact with their friends. Because of this it can be difficult for us as researchers to understand the extent to which social play develops social skills. However, while we may not have resolved this chicken or the egg dilemma, we know ways to promote social development and social play. What can parents or teachers do to encourage social play?
To some parents and educators with busy schedules or curriculums to cover, the above tips may sound like a bit of a challenge. Even brief interactions with your child in social play will give you amazing opportunities to see their responses, learn about them as a person and create memories together. With a bit of practice, you may get to witness how your child’s social play develops with their social skills. Or is it the other way around…? Read more...
Read more of PEDAL's Z-A of Play Series here. |
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