Based on the article from the Pediatrics Journal, by Kenneth R. Ginsburg, 2007.
Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children starting from infancy.
Whether its an adult playing with a child or another child playing together, play is a fundamental building block that is critical to the development and growth in children and as caregivers/teachers, we are the people that can help the children in your center grow.
Play allows a child to build an imagination, create dreams, solve problems, and learn daily skills to help them succeed in life. Play also helps build their self esteem, self image, and self confidence. When a teacher plays with a child, it grows those essential emotional bonds to help them build relationships later in life. There is a healthy whole self well-being that is created out of play.
We never know that their home life is, but when they are with you during the day, you are a critical person in their life and development. Fostering and encouraging them may be the only positive influences in their life. You may be shaping and changing their entire life.
You as a teacher are an important person, even though you may not feel it or know it, you are special! So keep playing in the classroom, have fun, dance, be silly..... because those small things add up to the bigger picture in a child's life.
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