X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

THIS is why kindergarten children must play with other kids, says study

3 min read
THIS is why kindergarten children must play with other kids, says study

You'll be surprised to know the benefits of playing that your child will be blessed with, especially as he grows into a teenager. Read on.

When Albert Einstein said that ‘play is the highest form of research’, he clearly knew what he was talking about. According to this report, a study reveals the amazing benefits of playing as children, when in kindergarten, has on them during their growing years. This especially holds true when they become teenagers.

Children love playing. There’s nothing more fun than playing with other children their age. But, for most parents, the idea of playing is equated with wasting time. However, it’s serious business says a study which appeared in journal of Applied Developmental Science. Apparently, playing with other kids using kindergarten massively helps develop their cognitive skills. It encourages them to participate in extracurricular activities in school, and builds their interactive skills.

According to Kavita Mungi, mental health counsellor, one of the primary needs of childhood is to engage with other children. This helps the child to develop language as well as communication skills. There is a give and take of knowledge, which is essential to the learning process. She adds, “Outdoor play helps in their physical development. Playing a simple game like ‘hide and seek’ contributes towards developing their social skills such as sharing, caring, competing and leadership skills.”

Study author Jennifer Astute from New York University says, “This study provides first-time empirical evidence that young children’s experiences and skills in kindergarten may shape their engagement in society later in life.” Sounds like a great idea pushing your little one out to play with other children? Well, it definitely is. However, of late children seem more enamoured by the glitz of various screens available at their disposal. They’d rather spend time pushing buttons on their iPads or watching cartoon characters play with each other, instead of playing with other children their age.

Benefits of playing

Parents should set examples by keeping their own devices away on places such as dinner tables, play time, in schools and family time, feels Ms Mungi. According to her, indulging in simple activities like going out for picnics, playing board games, reading, playing in parks and socialising with other parents with children will help inculcate better social skills in him. Some other benefits of playing are:

  • Builds imagination: It helps build their imagination. Almost anything can spur your child’s imagination… be it a toy, or a random floating cloud. By playing with other children, their imaginative skills multiply. One child’s perspective of a cloud along with two other children’s perspectives, often different from each other, allows your child to also be inclusive of other ideas.
  • Promotes social skills: As I mentioned earlier, while it may look like ‘child’s play’, it’s serious business for your child and his peers. There is much more to these playground interactions than meets the eye. There is a lot of social networking, adhering to social norms, decision making skills, sharing, relationship building, and much more involved.
  • Aids physical development: Apart from their emotional well-being and growth, playing outside is essential as it helps them be physically fit and healthy. When children play, they learn reflexes and movement control, apart from building strong muscles and improving bone density.

So what are you waiting for? Switch that phone off, dress up your children for play and let them grow into happy, confident, and clever children who have an ever-expanding thought process.

Partner Stories
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTU Singapore and Marshall Cavendish Education Collaborate to Develop Online Courses for K12 Educators
NTU Singapore and Marshall Cavendish Education Collaborate to Develop Online Courses for K12 Educators
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers With 3M Girls Can Tinker Program
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers With 3M Girls Can Tinker Program

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the article, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook  to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theasianparent.com!!

 

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Divya Nair

  • Home
  • /
  • Education
  • /
  • THIS is why kindergarten children must play with other kids, says study
Share:
  • Gaming Has Benefits And Perils – Parents Can Help Kids By Playing With Them

    Gaming Has Benefits And Perils – Parents Can Help Kids By Playing With Them

  • 5 things your child should be doing now for University admissions - prepare to be surprised!

    5 things your child should be doing now for University admissions - prepare to be surprised!

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Gaming Has Benefits And Perils – Parents Can Help Kids By Playing With Them

    Gaming Has Benefits And Perils – Parents Can Help Kids By Playing With Them

  • 5 things your child should be doing now for University admissions - prepare to be surprised!

    5 things your child should be doing now for University admissions - prepare to be surprised!

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.