Purposeful Play
It’s proven that child development takes its appropriate course when there is a combination of experiences, skills, and emotions involved.
One is not more important than the other, but the integration of all three can create a wholesome learning environment. Here are some of those benchmarks that we feel strength about:
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Social skills
Through playing with other children, a child picks up the skills of sharing, negotiating, and cooperating and gains experience in forming friendships.
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An awareness of other’s feelings
A child learns that others share his/her worries, fears, and delights - a first step in realizing such feelings are not unique to him/her.
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A greater trust in adults
By finding out that other adults will care for him/her, a child learns that he/she can trust adults other than his/her parents, which makes the world feel like a safer place.
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A greater sense of independence
At home, a child receives a great deal of one-on-one attention from his/her parents. At school, the teacher’s attention must be shared with others, making the child more self-reliant.
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Improved listening and speaking skills
A child has to develop these skills to communicate successfully with the teacher and other children.
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New experiences
From trips to the fire station to new songs and dances, a child is introduced to activities that help him/her learn more about the world.
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Stimulation and activity
A child gets to play with a variety of equipment and materials in a place primarily designed for play.
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Increased self-esteem
By succeeding at school tasks, a child becomes more confident of his/ her abilities.
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The satisfaction of belonging to a group
A child gains a sense of security by learning how to participate with others in school activities.