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From Baby to Preschool Play
The Wonderful World of Child's Play as They Grow
By Renee Roberson
Dramatic play is important to a child's development because it helps him express feelings he may not be able to put into words yet. According to Acklie, dramatic play helps children communicate events going on in their lives that may be causing fear or anxiety, such as an illness in the family, or in more extreme cases, instances of abuse.
Remember that your child must transition through each stage of play just like any other stage in her life, like developing motor skills and learning to eat solid foods. There's a reason your baby may want you to watch him play with that musical toy or enjoy watching you play with it too.
"It's important that children go through each stage of play," Moen says. "It's as important as the physical milestones for infants such as sitting up and rolling over. Play helps children cognitively build a foundation for abstract learning. For children to be able to function in elementary school they need to experience all types of play."
The key to helping your child discover different types of play is not to rush things. Expecting a child to ride a tricycle, for example, will only result in frustration on both you and your child's part. Instead, sit back and take pleasure in watching your child figure out how to hold that pencil or crayon at his own pace, and he'll be creating masterpieces in no time – and engaging in a game of soccer with teammates before you know it.
Dee Acklie, who also serves as director of the Special Education Department at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb., had a feeling something wasn't quite right as she observed a preschool-aged boy who was fascinated with a set of trains.
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