Play Supports Coping
Imagine children running around zapping the coronavirus with wands, bringing people back to life with magic spells, and building hospitals and testing centers with blocks. Play is the primary way our children process what they are feeling and experiencing. Now, more than ever, our children need to play to help them cope and make sense of their world.
In her article “Why Schools - Now More Than Ever - Should Let Young Kids Learn Through Play (Not Worksheets),” Nancy Carlsson-Paige, an early childhood expert, professor emerita, and founding member of the non-profit Defending The Early Years, writes that play is the “most important natural resource children have for coping with their sometimes scary and confusing world.” She discusses the power of play as an “engine of development” for children and its importance in helping children cope and maintain “emotional balance.”
Especially important is Dr. Carlsson-Paige’s assertion that “Once kids do return to in-person school, they are going to need a lot of time to play to process all the changes they’ve been through. This is what will help them regain a sense of security going forward.”
Play is what our children need, now more than ever, for coping and for learning. It’s also what our families and communities need for thriving. Play is the birthplace of who we want our children to become: curious, creative, communicative, collaborative, compassionate, and more. Let’s help our children, and by extension our families, schools, and communities, find peace and achieve success through play.
Read Carlsson-Paige’s article HERE and find the support you need to build connection, support communication, and enrich learning through play by connecting with Rebecca HERE.
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