Types of games important for child development

The most important task that children have to do is play. Games are essential for child development. For children, playing is much more than a way to pass the time.

When a child engages in a game they are developing important skills., such as waiting your turn, cooperating, communicating with others, among others. In addition, games help children develop their creativity and imagination.

Not all games are the same

At first glance it may seem that all games are the same. However, this is completely incorrect. Different stages or forms of play have been identified. Knowing them and learning to identify them allows parents, educators and caregivers to support the child’s growth and progress.

As the child grows, his or her way of playing changes.. Additionally, children progress through different forms of play as they grow. This includes playing alone, playing with other children, and interactive play with other children.

Types of games according to the stage of development

The sociologist Mildred Parten identified six stages of play in which a child can participate depending on his age, mood and social environment. They are the following:

1. Idle game

It is the game for babies and younger children.. Unoccupied play refers to activities that the child does when it appears that nothing is being played at all.

The child may be involved in seemingly random movements, without a goal. Despite appearances, the child is playing and setting the stage for future play exploration.

2. Solitaire game

It occurs when the child plays alone. This type of game is important, since teaches the child how to keep himself entertained, which will allow you to be self-sufficient. Any child can play independently.

Solitary play is the most common in children between two and three years old.; partly because at this stage they are still quite focused on themselves, but also because of the lack of good communication skills needed to play with other children.

3. Spectator game

This game is also common in young children. Spectator play occurs when a child simply observes other children playing and does not participate in the action. This is not something to worry about.

4. Parallel play

Parallel play occurs when several young children play in the same place, but each one in their own world. This does not mean that they do not like to play or be with others, but that each one is developing their own game.

It is a type of game in which, although the game is individual, they also learn skills, such as taking turns. Although it seems that each child is in his world, They are really observing each other, they are sharing space and they are learning from each other.

5. Associative game

During associative play, children also play separately, but In this game mode you are involved with what others are doing. This is an important stage of play because it helps children develop many social skills.

Also favors and stimulates language development. Through associative play, children begin to make real friendships.

6. Cooperative play

This game is where all the stages come together and the children start playing together. Cooperative play brings together all the social skills that the child has been working on and puts them into practice.

In fact, it has been shown that cooperative play encourages children to reason about the feelings of others, therefore it is an extremely useful tool for the development of empathy.

Game types

For its part, There are other game classifications that are important to take into account and that also contribute to the development of children.. However, these appear when the child begins to participate in cooperative play.

Dramatic or fantasy play: Through this type of game, in addition to activating children’s imagination, they also learn to wait their turn, cooperate and share. They also stimulate the development of language and consolidate the functioning of social roles.Competitive game: These are games that require compliance with rules. In this case, children learn to take turns, to fulfill their mission as part of the team, to develop strategies, to cooperate with others, and to respect others. They also learn to overcome frustration and develop strategies to improve.Building games: with construction games, children learn to manipulate elements, developing cognitive skills; At the same time, they enhance imagination, creativity and the structuring of space.

Contributions of the game to development

As we already said, the game, in addition to providing the child with pleasure and moments of distraction, It is an activity that stimulates and demands different components of child development.

Contributions to cognitive development

The game activates the child’s cognitive skills, as allows you to understand your environment and develop your thinking. For example, a child who plays with a farm, animals, figures, etc., will get to know the pieces of the game, discover the different types of animals there are, understand how the objects work (roll the tractor, open the farm window , etc.) and you will also learn how to use them properly.

In addition, You will discover the permanence of objects: they continue to exist, even if you do not see them (for example, making the horse disappear, who keeps it in the stable, and later returns to look for it).

Contributions to social development

Playing with peers and adults is a powerful instrument that facilitates their social development, while learn the notions of reciprocity – giving and receiving – and empathy.

For example, in dramatic or fantasy games, every time they play doctors, new elements are added that reveal the increasingly complete knowledge they have about that particular profession. Besides, It allows you to internalize different social roles and interaction with others.

Contributions to emotional development

Through play, the child transfers his feelings to the characters in his stories. Which allows the manifestation and elaboration of complex emotions.

When interacting with his environment, it often happens that the child is exposed to very strong psychic tension. That’s why creates a world tailored to you that offers guarantees to overcome or alleviate these tensions. Then, an alternative reality is created in the game that serves to direct his energies towards more satisfactory solutions for himself.

Contributions to motor development

Finally, the game also develops the child’s motor skills (both gross and fine), since it constitutes the driving force for the child to perform the desired action.

In closing, we emphasize the importance of promoting these types of games in their corresponding stages. Let us remember that play is one of the main sources of learning and stimulation for children, so it must be included in school and home routines.

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