6 Benefits of Play

Play isn’t all fun and games — it’s also an important teaching tool! Through play, kids learn how to interact with others and develop critical lifelong skills. These 6 benefits all play an important role in raising well-rounded children.
Physical Skills
physical

Physical

Active play helps kids with coordination, balance, motor skills, and spending their natural energy (which promotes better eating and sleeping habits).

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Process Emotions
emotional

Emotional

During play, kids learn to cope with emotions like fear, frustration, anger, and aggression in a situation they control. They can also practice empathy and understanding.  

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Cognitive Skills
cognitive

Cognitive

Children learn to think, read, remember, reason, and pay attention through play.

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Creative Skills
creative

Creative

By allowing imaginations to run wild during play, kids create new worlds, and form unique ideas and solutions to challenges.

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Communication Skills
communicative

Communication

Play lets kids exchange thoughts, information, or messages by speech, signals, writing, or actions.

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Put the Benefits of Play into Action

Discover play ideas by age, benefit, and prep time to play every day!
emotional tile--9-12 tile--30-min
cognitive

Five Things

Ages 10 years and older
Let's Play!
blue tile--9-12 tile--6-9 tile--3-6
cognitive

What Time Is It?

Ages 4 years and older
Let's Play!
cognitive tile--3-6 tile--6-9 tile--9-12 tile--15-min
cognitive

Balloon Ball Pit

Ages 3 years and older
Let's Play!

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