Physical Play in the Lives of Children
Cultivate a Lifestyle of Health and Wellness Through Play
Physical play in children (defined as girls and boys from infants through twelve years of age) needs to be thought of in terms of their physical motor constructs, their perceptual field equipment, their interactions in their environment and, of course, their maturation and growth over time. Sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, and movement are all initial play equipment in children. How does the child come to know, to understand, to relate, to interact, and to explore the world around them? My colleagues who are occupational therapists and physical therapists talk about the concept of sensory integration, the blending and interaction of sensory field equipment such as a child’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, motor skills and their ability to move and explore the world around them. A child’s interactions with their world, their personal interactions with others, and the environment will have a key role in growth and development. This development includes the brain, synthesis of the spoken word, and their movement from concrete object explorations to eventual symbolic thinking, language acquisition, and more advanced thinking, feeling, knowing, and understanding of the world around them. It is through the wonderful opportunities of physical play that we see their emerging sense of self and other.
In this White Paper:
- How children reach important developmental milestones through play
- Effective ways to implement physical play opportunities in your play environment
- And more!
