Personally, there’s nothing I love more than watching children play, especially if they’re trying new activities or sports for the first time. They get so excited, which ramps up their energy, and their engagement builds up their confidence, creativity, and physical strength. Honestly, this is so much better for them and their parents than just letting them stay in front of a TV.
In my career, I’ve seen hundreds of children pick up new skills while enjoying physically playing around. The following are 5 specific benefits that go beyond it just being fun.
1) Playtime Boosts Creativity and Self-Esteem
Physical activity gives kids the opportunity to try out new skills and activities. Through this, they can learn how to take control of their fears and build up their self-esteem. Research has already demonstrated the link between physically active children enjoying improved feelings of accomplishment and confidence.
Any new exercise requires practice, and it ends in something rewarding, whether it’s getting through that first-ever somersault or getting all the way through the monkey bars. Once kids get something done, they have a spike in their confidence, leading them to bigger and better challenges ahead.
2) Playtime Helps Them Develop Crucial Athletic and Motor Skills
Kids are going to grow and develop without even realising that they are doing it. When they try and touch their toes, they pick up things like balance, spatial relationships, and coordination. If they play a game involving a ball, they get to improve their body’s fine-motor skills. Anytime they get to dance, they start learning about moving to the beat of the music and enjoying the rhythm.
Being physically fit starts a tsunami of compounding benefits. Fit kids are far more likely to be involved in games, dance, and sports. This all means better endurance, strength, agility, and composition. All of this adds up to kids who can get throughout a whole day without any fatigue.
3) Playtime with Others Means Learning Sportsmanship and Teamwork
Kids get to interact with one another in a social environment that isn’t competitive. Winning and losing don’t matter, as they’re just trying to work with others and do their collective best.
For instance, an activity like playing in a gym with a parachute just doesn’t work as well unless every kid is participating. Everyone has to have a specific role they commit to in order to make waves across the parachute. Even competitive team sports like football mean that kids learn to build up the team based on everyone’s strengths and successes as they cheer for one another. They have to learn how to function as a unit in order to get across the whole field and then score a goal.
4) Playtime Strengthens the Bonds between Children and Parents
When the adults in a child’s life show off jumping jacks, how to properly throw a ball, or even just lead a raucous sing-along, the children are picking up essential physical skills, and yet they’re also getting more quality time with the adult figures in their lives. This makes parents more engaged in the lives of their children. When parents actively participate in their child’s activities instead of just passively watching, they quickly get to find out what specific things their kids love most. This is really useful information.
5) Playtime Lets Kids Be Happy
Many experts in raising children will tell you not to be jealous of kids being able to play all the time, because it’s actually their job. It’s how they develop, learn, and socialise. They can develop an entire daily routine, and it’s one that can lead to an active and healthy lifestyle.
Bouldering near me? Check this out.
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