How important is play in the development of our youngest learners? By Lorrie Holmes
W
e recently spoke with three child development experts about the importance of play in the development of young children. We began with renowned counsellor, scientist and storyteller, Dr. Deborah MacNamara, followed by early childhood education college instructors, Candiss Brown and Nika Jibrael. According to all three, play is where it all begins.
ment, warmth, and delight. The more deeply attached a child is to their adults, the more rest they experience which further promotes healthy growth and development. BCP: Can you tell me how children learn through play? Dr. MacNamara: Play works to network a child’s brain in an organic way and helps transform their understanding of the world and their role in it. Play should feel like a safe
BC Parent (BCP): Why is play so important to
the development of young children? Dr. MacNamara: The research on the science of play finds there are three key areas it serves when it comes to a child’s development. Play is central to overall brain integration, with motor and sensory systems networking with language and emotional centres. In play a child’s sense of agency is enhanced as they explore and make sense of their world, developing as a separate self in the process. The discovery of personal preferences, wants, wishes and desires is based upon this type of examination of the world, up close and personal. Play also serves emotional development as it allows for the release of emotions without repercussion to relationships. One of the key characteristics of play is that it is not real, so consequences and outcomes don’t apply when they express their stories and ideas (or it shouldn’t anyways). The brain doesn’t differentiate emotional expression that is based on real life events versus imaginary ones, allowing the brain to develop a pattern of emotional response to stimuli. Play also supports attachment between parents/teacher and their kids or siblings/friends, as they share enjoy-
Measuring learning outcomes explicitly, evaluating, and forcing work activities on a young child is likely to court frustration as their brains are only built for play.
space allowing the child to make connections because there are no emotional problems to solve such as separation anxiety and holding onto a loved one. Given the lack of pressure on outcomes, worksheets or being evaluated while in play, more of the child’s attention can go to solving problems and making sense of things, which then helps the child retain what they have explored. Children are natural scientists and when they don’t feel coerced, their emotions are more at rest and able to be used for the purpose of learning. BCP: Do you feel this is the most effective way to teach young children? Dr. MacNamara: Play is the most effective way to harness the learning capacity of a young
child. The reason is that the centres of the brain responsible for the delay of gratification, which is an essential element of work, are not developed until between the ages of 5 to 7 years of age, or 7 to 9 years for a highly sensitive child. Measuring learning outcomes explicitly, evaluating, and forcing work activities on a young child is likely to court frustration as their brains are only built for play. Without the capacity to delay gratification, they are only engaged by what is happening in the moment and this provides intrinsic enjoyment. The more they don’t ‘have to do something,’ the more they have the freedom to engage in activities based on their own will, making play a more effective medium to learn in. BCP: Can play be used at all ages and stages of child development? Dr. MacNamara: Play can be used at any age to support learning. The more we are at play, the more our attention can be directed towards putting things together in novel ways. Having an outcome or being evaluated constrains attention and focuses us towards explicit outcomes. Play is the birthplace of creativity, innovation and this can be harnessed across the life span and used in varying contexts. Dr. Deborah MacNamara is a counsellor and scientist; storyteller and teacher; guide and Mother. She makes sense of kids for adults who care for them believing this to be the path for transforming families and communities, society, and our world as a whole. Learn more about her resources and booking her to speak at your event at www.macnamara.ca
bcparent.ca • education issue 2023 19
