The Power of Play: Joy, Wonder and Wellness
What’s so great about play? Let’s count the ways!
1. Play develops your child’s body and mind
Research proves what your eyes see: Play is essential to every child’s healthy development. Kids get stronger and more coordinated when they engage in playful physical activities. Play wires their brains for a lifetime of curiosity and learning.
2. Play nurtures your child’s social-emotional skills and mental health
During play, kids figure out how to manage emotions, express feelings and navigate conflict. Play fosters children’s ability to cope with stress, anxiety and unexpected situations.
3. Play cultivates the skills your child needs to thrive in school
Play helps children grow the skills that enable academic learning. Play nurtures creativity, confidence, critical thinking, collaboration and other proficiencies that lay the foundation for success in school and beyond.
4. Play fosters empathy
When kids play, they try on new roles that help them view the world through someone else’s eyes. They learn to consider the perspectives of others, which promotes inclusion and belonging. They practice collaborating, working together and understanding each other.
5. Play sparks joy, brings families together and enriches lives
From a baby’s first peek-a-boo giggles to a grandparent’s game of hide-and-seek with a toddler, play creates a lifetime of opportunities for bonding. Throughout the world, there is infinite joy in play.
The museum’s mission is to spark children’s learning through play. We want to see kids (and adults) play more.
Why? Because…
Play is nutritious. The American Academic of Pediatrics urges family doctors to write “prescriptions for play.” That’s how essential play is to every child’s healthy development.
Play is universal. The United Nations recognizes play as a fundamental right of every child.
POWERFUL PLAY
POWERFUL PLAY
Tips to Make Your Child’s Play Even More Powerful
When children play, they learn and grow. It’s that simple.
Powerful Play: Fun, Active and Open-Ended
Play is particularly powerful when a child’s own interests drive the activity.
Coordination
Power of Play: Coordination is a child’s awareness and control of their body and their ability to display strength, balance, precision and endurance.
Creative Thinking
Power of Play: Creative thinking is a kid’s ability to imagine, improvise, reinvent, innovate, and approach challenges from fresh perspectives.
Communication
Power of Play: Communication is how a child expresses thoughts and ideas, listens and responds to others, and engages in discussion.
(Self) Control
Power of Play: Self-control is a child’s ability to control how they express their feelings, desires and actions in ways that are safe and productive, particularly when faced with a temptation or a challenge.
Collaboration
Power of Play: Collaboration is how kids connect with others, cooperate, empathize and engage in teamwork.
Critical Thinking
Power of Play: Critical thinking is a child’s ability to be curious and analytical, to evaluate different options, to make plans and to reflect.
Confidence
Power of Play: Confidence is a kid’s belief that they can accomplish something, or attempt something, based on their own abilities and mindset.