In an extensive discussion of play, Cohen (1993:1-15) defines it as a set of meaningful and enjoyable activities that help a child learn about and relate to his surroundings. Cohen (1-15) also notes that play is literally invaluable in a child's life, facilitating his or her cognitive, social, emotional, educational, and language development. It is also said to teach independence and responsibility.
Similarly, Macintyre (2001:1-29) notes that play provides children with opportunities to explore, manipulate and interact with their environment, thereby encouraging them to investigate, create and discover their world and its offerings. Play is also said to motivate children to add to their knowledge and understanding of the world as well as to provide a particular mindset in which they feel challenged to understand all that is new and unknown. Macintyre (1-29) also points out that play is hands-on experience in learning how to master the environment. In other words, to play is to learn to live in this world in a skilled and competent way.
Learning Through Play and Brain Development
As just noted, one of the many benefits of play is that it facilitates cognitive development. Indeed, Ceglowski (1999:1-3) notes that play can operate to enhance children's problem solving ability, and their degree of creative thought; it can also assist them to get high grades in school. Moreover, it helps children to see multiple solutions to problems and enhances their language skills in general including not only verbal skills but also their skills in reading and writing.
Almon (2004:1-2) states that studies of children (kindergarten through fourth grade) show that children who attend play-oriented kindergartens surpass children in mental development when compared to children who attend academic-oriented kindergartens. Moreover, Almon (1-2) reports that programs with child-initiated activity, especially play , are associated with children w...