all kinds of skills and traits through play, such as fine and gross motor skills, personal awareness, emotional well-being, social skills, creativity, logic, and problem solving, to name a few. But did you also know that a child’s play skills are linked to their language development? Play and language skills develop hand-inhand, and each supports the development of the other. This is especially true when children start engaging in pretend play and
An increasing amount of research is showing how important quality interactions are between caregivers and children to support optimal language development. When children have conversations with adults, they receive good language models and also have the opportunity to practice using what they’ve learned and receive natural feedback as a part of the conversation. Recent research shows that engaging in conversations with young children works to strengthen the areas in their brain associated with language. And one of the best ways to have conversations with children is to participate in their play. Regardless of how children play with toys, there are many opportunities for adults to model language and for children to practice using language as you talk about what you are doing together, or perhaps what you plan to do next. Having conversations during play is a great way to link experience to new word meanings. That way, a child learns directly through their experience—even if it is just pretend. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Play is a child’s work.” Children learn about the world and develop
role playing. Here, children learn to use their imaginations, and they need language to create and enrich their play when they engage with others. This includes using language to decide what they will play (for example, race car drivers on a race track), who will play each role and what each person will do as part of their role, as well as what happens in the “story.” Think of all the endless conversation possibilities and language-learning opportunities children can engage in as they negotiate their play. Remember that like the example of someone trying to talk to you during your favourite TV show, the high level of engagement needed to maximally support language development is not likely to happen if a toy is monopolizing a child’s attention, or if the toy is doing all the playing by itself with the child as a passive observer. I am not saying that these busy toys are detrimental to children’s development. Rather, I am saying that simple, more traditional toys are better
suited to support interactions that will have a positive impact on a child’s development. When we play with “toys that do nothing,” we—children and adults—are more likely to be tuned-in to one another. This sets the foundation for interactions that include more conversation and more opportunities to support language development. When the toy does less, it’s easier for kids to pay more attention to you and less attention to the toy. In that way, it is not the toys that are important, it is the interaction and conversations we have while we play with those toys that are important. So when we choose toys for our grandchildren, we should be choosing toys that don’t undermine interaction or distract from communicating with each other or engaging with what we say or how we say it. So if you are thinking about getting a young loved one something special, consider the benefits of a toy that does nothing. Try not to be drawn in by the busy toys with all the bells and whistles. Remember that the flashy, high-tech toys do not allow much space for interactions that support your grandchild’s development. Instead, look for more traditional toys—blocks, role-play/dress-ups, puppets, or pretend food, for example—that you and your grandchildren will enjoy playing with together. The best toys are simple and come with a willing and attentive play partner. I am certain that the gift that will keep on giving long after the batteries die is the toy that does nothing.
Caitlin Bittman, M.Sc., R.SLP., S-LP(C), CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Island Health. Winter 2019 21