Why do children prefer playing to studying and learning?
Traditional teaching methods are not always effective and adapted to all children. Compared to work (studying), children find games to be fun and relaxing; this is why they develop skills more quickly while playing. Play is children’s preferred activity. It sometimes helps teaching children skills that are difficult to acquire through traditional work.
In addition, playing could be a way to teach children social, cognitive skills and self-confidence, which could enable them to live new experiences and adapt to unfamiliar environments.
According to Lev Vigotsky, “Play is the main source for a child to develop emotionally, socially, physically, as well as to acquire linguistic or cognitive skills.”
Are all kinds of playing useful?
There are two types of playing:
– Individual play: This is the kind of playing that is based on manipulating toys alone whereby the child sets his own rules, which enables him or her to develop his or her personality. This type of playing requires the child to be creative.
– Collective play: This kind of playing is a reflection of the community. It teaches children to accept others and to learn how to interact with them in society. It also teaches them to respect laws and regulations. This kind of play also has several advantages:
– It stimulates children to participate and gain.
– It enhances mental skills.
– Children share ideas and collaborate.
– Children acquire new strategies.
What is the role of the Democracy?
Modifying the game and adding a democratic element makes the child less prone to fatigue as well as fear of error and failure, because the game is based on rules known to all and sometimes it creates an opportunity to strengthen communication with others and oral expression, to argue his options, and thus improve his language. It allows the child to develop work methods and logical thinking since s/he has to negotiate his or her options; which requires improving his or her ability to talk.
What is the relationship between playing and learning?
Playing gives the child a specific goal and encourages him or her to participate for games enhance children’s mental abilities and improve their creative abilities. In addition:
– Playing enhances the child’s self-confidence through surpassing others.
– The child learns to cooperate and respect the rights of others.
– The child learns to abide by laws and rules.
– Playing helps in the development of memory, thinking, perception and imagination.
– The child acquires self-confidence; hence, it becomes easy to discover one’s capabilities and testing them.
What are educational games?
– Dummies (e.g. hunting tools, cars and trains, animal forms, machines, toiletries … etc.)
– Motor games (e.g. shooting and throwing games, building shapes, racing, jumping, wrestling, balance and swing, running, and ball games).
– Intelligence games (e.g. riddles, puzzles, problem solving, crosswords … etc.).
– Acting games (e.g. acting, role-play).
– Singing and dancing games: (e.g. imitating, singing, folk dance … etc.).
– Fortune games: (e.g. Dominoes, snakes and stairs, guessing games).
– Stories and cultural games: (e.g. poetry competitions, cards).
Useful links
Le rôle du jeu dans le développement de l’enfant. Retrieved from: http://www.ac-grenoble.fr/ecole/74/maternelle74/IMG/pdf/le_role_du_jeu_dans_le_developpement_de_l_enfant_ageem2.pdf
Le jeu en pédagogie. Retrieved from: http://www.ac-nice.fr/ienash/ash/file/Centre_Ressources/Jeux_serieux/Le_jeu_en_pedagogie.pdf
Importance of games in students’ life. Retrieved from: https://targetstudy.com/articles/importance-of-games-in-students-life.html
