Play and Social Skills – Improving Social Interaction in the Playground

Play and Social Skills – Improving Social Interaction in the Playground

Play skill link heavily to social skills. Take a look at what activities to play, embrace or employ to ensure children grow into the best version of their social selves.

Learning how to interact with others at playtime is a big step for children. Therefore it is worth following some key steps to ensure they are becoming the best version of themselves through social interaction at school, in the playground and ultimately overall.

Outside the learning environment of the classroom, the playground offers an ideal chance for children to develop their newly formed interpersonal skills and build their confidence through independent socialising.

Peer to peer communications and interactions allow children to form their own opinions about how childhood socialisation functions. They begin to build the foundation of their personalities by navigating the ups and downs of how people respond to actions, play and interaction.

So, let’s take a look at what activities can ensure children are gaining the best advantage from these opportunities.

Developing social skills through Role Play

There’s a good reason why Role Play shows up in so many news articles and blog websites. Role Play is essential for childhood development and social interaction. Luckily, children are absolute naturals at this and, more often than not, will employ Role Play as a playground activity.

Due to the inherent necessity for communication in Role Play, this is one of the best ways to start children socialising. Who will be what character? What do they feel like? Who is going to be the baddie? These are all forms of communication that are key for childhood development.

As children learn to self-govern and negotiate what is allocated to who, their brains are firing off communication receptors. They will begin to understand the key nuances of what actions garner the best responses. These are key interactions in their childhood development that will be the building blocks for their later adult interactions.

So, what can you do to encourage and ensure the best Role Play? Give them a role play stage or a storytelling chair to play out their dreams! These dedicated settings will automatically trigger their imaginations to run wild whilst adding in the consideration of an audience!

Team sports and outdoor play

Similarly, when children play team sports there are different roles to navigate. Who will be the team leader, who will choose who, and why? All these considerations are necessary for brain develop and encourage communication, socialisation and playground relationships.

Many a friendship is made when the winning football or basketball team scores a goal. Equally, the competitive nature of these games ensures children are interacting with each other and constantly communicating about what everyone thinks should be done! The beginnings of a relationship can bloom from something as simple as a pass in a game.

A dedicated space for team sports like football or basketball  will allow children  to let loose, have fun and steer their interactions into positive activity, and developing their and social relations.

Creating play and social spaces

By building a stage in the playground, a basketball court in the PE area or a Mud Kitchen where kids can replicate and perform what they see at home, schools will be creating crucial spaces for social interaction and growth. These structures in playgrounds are essential for the development of children’s autonomy and will undoubtedly improve the overall harmony of a school.

If you’re looking to improve social interaction at your school, Playcubed is on hand throughout London and the South East. We provide bespoke play facilities and equipment for schools which will help your pupils with playing, talking and developing their social skills. Give us a call today on 01322 279799 to talk more about play and communication – and how we can help.