Read on to find how children’s play develops as they grow older.

Plenty of things change as we get older. Our taste in food, the way we think, and of course our physical ability – and that’s just the adults. With such fast development in the childhood, it’s understandable that the way children play goes through phases as they grow. However, play should also challenge them in different ways. Read on as we explore how play changes through the childhood years.

The first movements

Play and movement is important from day one for babies. It begins with reflexive movements, such as when babies jerk their arms and legs. Hardly an intense workout, but it’s the start of their slow journey towards controlled movement. As they develop, infants become more aware of their movements. In turn they begin to work with their motor skills when they play:

·        Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups like arms and legs

·        Fine motor skills involve smaller muscle groups like the fingers and toes

Gross motor skills are essential in all the landmark moments for infants – sitting up, crawling and walking, while fine motor skills allow them to play with smaller objects, exploring new shapes, textures and colours.

 

Moving through childhood

As toddlers becomes children, their play becomes a lot more physical. They want to run, jump and even swing. There’s more to this that first meets the eye though. Physical activity and play is at the core of children’s social development. It’s how children meet new friends, and learn to cooperate and compete. With the right kind of physical play, young children can learn important behavioural skills like reciprocation, turn-taking and following rules, while also improving their physical fitness.

 

Adolescent “play”

It’s not just mood swings and growth spurts – when children become teenagers, play is important in keeping them active. Whether it’s team sports or individual activities like yoga or climbing, it’s essential for teenagers to have the space and facilities to stay active. They may not refer to it as “play” any more, but this activity is also a great stress-reliever – and we all know how essential that is in the teenage years.

Looking forward, adolescent play lays the foundations for adulthood. It’s no secret that an inactive lifestyle is a factor in a wide range of health complications, so it really is essential for teenagers to make physical activity a part of their day to day life.

 

Providing the right space for play

Whether it’s sensory play for infants or sports courts for adolescents, it’s important that children have the right space to play throughout their childhood years. At Playcubed, we provide a wide range of play areas, active play facilities and sports surfaces across London and the South East.

Covering survey, design and installation, our comprehensive service makes it easy for you to get the perfect facilities for your school or public space. Get in touch today to discuss your needs with our team.

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