Why Play Is So Important for a Child’s Development

Fine motor skills involve the smaller muscles of the hands and fingers.

Activities such as picking up objects, building blocks, creating things, gripping, grabbing and manipulating toys encourage children to use these muscles.

These skills later support everyday activities such as holding a pencil, using scissors, drawing, writing and feeding themselves.

Running, climbing, jumping, crawling and balancing involve the larger muscles of the body.

These activities help children develop:

Active play gives children an opportunity to understand what their bodies can do.

When a child reaches for a ball, throws an object, catches something or tries to place an object in a particular position, the eyes and hands have to work together.

This is called hand-eye coordination.

Regular opportunities to practise these movements can help children become more confident in physical activities and everyday tasks.

When children play together, they learn much more than physical skills.

They learn to:

These are important life skills that cannot always be learnt from a textbook.

When a child tries something difficult and finally succeeds, they experience a sense of achievement.

Whether it is climbing higher, completing an activity or learning a new movement, these small successes can encourage children to keep trying.

Children don’t always need structured learning every minute of the day.

Sometimes, they simply need a safe environment where they can move, explore, experiment and have fun.

At Lopa Playzone & Banquet in Thane, children can explore a wide range of activities designed around active and imaginative play.