Play of Preschool-Age Children
Play represents a free, spontaneous, and the most important activity in the upbringing of every child. It is an end in itself, and the main reason a child initiates play is the pleasure they feel during it. Through play, the child explores, develops imagination, builds relationships, and communicates. In play, the child processes and experiences what troubles, worries, or delights them… so through behavior during play, we can learn a lot about their emotional and intellectual development.
There are different types of play and various ways in which a child plays. These usually depend on the child’s age, but also on their intellectual, emotional, social, and motor capacities. Some basic types of play encountered in preschool age are:
- Independent play, when the child plays alone and does not need other children to develop play. Although parents often wonder if this is okay, through independent play the child learns to concentrate, to come up with creative solutions on their own, and these are important things for the child's development.
- Independent play, when the child plays alone and does not need other children to develop play. Although parents often wonder if this is okay, through independent play the child learns to concentrate, to come up with creative solutions on their own, and these are important things for the child's development.
- Asocial play occurs between ages 4 and 5 and is characterized by children playing in a group without clearly defined roles or a common goal. Children often change roles and relationships in this type of play, and there is no clear division between a leader and followers; these roles frequently switch.
- Cooperative play is an organized form of play. The child plays as part of a larger group that has a collective goal, for example, building a structure together from blocks. During cooperative play, the roles of leader and follower are often clearly visible, and this type of play contributes more than the previously mentioned types to building peer relationships and finding a place in the group.
How Do Children Behave in Nature?
How can parents contribute to enriching children’s experiences? Precisely through play! Allow the child to explore, experiment, and get to know different materials, textures, and shapes. The best way for this is for the child to spend as much time as possible in nature! Also, let the child take initiative in play, create and develop it as they wish. Although parents, with the best intentions, try to provide the child with the most beautiful and highest-quality toys, the fact is that toys are not crucial for the child’s development and progress. The child can play just as well, or even better, with natural materials and things not originally intended for play (dishes, leaves, sand, soil, water…). And don’t be afraid of children getting bored! Boredom is the perfect ground for developing creativity! When we chase, plan, buy, and do our best to ensure the child is never bored during the day, we miss the opportunity to stimulate the child’s imagination, to ignite their curiosity, to allow them to be children in every sense of the word.
Milijana Lazarević, Pedagogue,
Trešnjober Preschool