Play Time! (Round 2)

by Brandon Jubar

In this crazy, hectic world of ours, we often forget to stop and play. For those of us with children, however, playing can be extremely constructive -- and an important part of a child's growth and development. In "Round 1" of this article, we discussed the ways in which play are a completely natural and beneficial part of a child's development. We then looked at specific factors relating to children aged 6 to 18 months. Here in "Round 2", we'll look at symbolic play and the developmental differences in 4 and 5 year olds.

Older Children Discover Symbolic Play

Toddlers become even more creative with their play, and they will usually begin pretending that one item is actually something else. When my boys reached this stage of development, they would turn a simple blankie into superman's cape. Or combine a bigger blanket with a chair and it became a tent. This is the time when playing with a child can be very fulfilling for an adult. By modeling such creativity and helping children pretend, adults will get the children's own creative juices flowing.

At the age of 4 or 5, children will usually become very "realistic" in their play. They are beginning to pay even more attention to what their parent's are doing, and they will mimic these activities. As a parent, you will see your child pretend to drive a car, or play house. Sometimes children at this age will play alone or with an adult but, generally speaking, they will prefer to play with their peers.

This is also the age at which children will usually enjoy "building toys" such as Lincoln Logs and Legos. But don't be surprised when they build it up and knock it right down. For this age group is also into rough-housing and ramming around! Whatever activity they choose, you can rest assured that they will become more imaginative as they develop and grow.

Games are Loved by 4 and 5 Year Olds

Although there are games for younger children, it isn't until the age of 4 or 5 that children begin to understand the concepts of following rules and competing to accomplish specific requirements. Three of my oldest son's favorite games were Chutes & Ladders, Candyland and Concentration -- and he could beat me at every one of them!

This is also the age at which many children will become interested in sports. As with other games, there are the elements of following rules and competing. But there is also that very physical element equal to rough-housing. It is not surprising that sports are so popular -- they meet a broad range of children's developmental needs.

Play Builds Bonds between Parent and Child

Playing with your children will allow you to get into their world. You will be able to share laughter and fun, as you create memories that your children will carry with them for a lifetime. Taking the time to play with your children will also help out in many, many ways, because the more a child plays, the more that child learns and grows.

And as we discussed at the end of "Round 1", parents who take time to play with their children will relearn a bit of wonder and fascination. Play relieves your stress, which will be noticed by your child. This reinforces the idea that play is not only fun, but also good for you. If parents are very, very lucky, they may even have moments where they truly see the world through the eyes of a child. So always remember to make time for play time!

Life Applications:

When you have the opportunity to play with older children, what do you do?
What goes through your mind when you meet an older child who does not want to play?
What was "playtime" like when you were 4 or 5 years old? How does that affect you?

Copyright 2002-2009 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.