How can play help to support a child’s emotions?

Both adults and children go through feeling many emotions every day. A child’s experiences can influence how they self-regulate and deal with their emotions. Managing emotions is an important life lesson that benefits us in everyday life, from early years to adulthood. These benefits include, better communication, improved stress management, enhanced social skills and recognition of self-awareness.

What benefits does play have on a child’s emotions?

Giving kids the tools to express emotion through play allows them to build healthy relationships and stronger emotional tolerance. Play provides children with a great opportunity to positively and safely convey their feelings. Some of these benefits include:

• Helping children to express their emotions.
• Play allows the child to cope with the emotion.
• Helping children resolve conflicts.
• Play helps the child to develop a positive self-image.
  
  

How Play Can Aid Each Stage of Emotional Development in Children?

Noticing emotions (Birth to Age 1)

During this stage of life, babies learn emotions through observing and imitating facial expressions and vocalisations around them. They foster growth through playful learning, for example shaking a rattle or babbling to themselves making faces. This is the age where the child notices different emotions. Examples of emotional play at this age include:

• Reading picture books.
• Using flashcards to identify objects.
• Using toys with sounds.

Expressing emotions (Ages 2-3)

At this age, children learn to understand and express their emotions. Emotional play ideas for this age include:

• Sorting objects into shape and colour.
• Role play games and dress up.
• Free play outside with their peers.

The caregiver can introduce props to the child to encourage their emotional expression, for example, puppets. The child can use the puppets during role play and express their emotions in a controlled environment.

Managing emotions (Ages 3-4)

As children enter the third stage of emotional development, they begin to understand and manage their emotions. At this stage, play might look like:

• Drawing pictures to express themselves.
• Solving puzzles.
• Building towers and knocking them down.

At this stage, play helps children to understand and manage their emotions. To foster growth at this stage using play experiences, caregivers can provide puzzles, games, and arts and crafts supplies.

Two Play Ideas to Boost Emotional Development in Children.

1. Creative, Educational Toys That Encourage Emotional Development:

When it comes to finding the right toys to encourage emotional development in children, there are a few things to think of. Firstly, look for toys that encourage creativity and expression. Art supplies, craft kits and musical instruments are all great options.

Additionally, you can look for toys that offer opportunities for problem-solving and cognitive development, for example, puzzles, games and building kits.

2. Collaborative Play Experiences That Encourage Emotional Development

Don't forget about the importance of social and emotional development. One of the best ways to encourage emotional development in children is through collaborative play experiences. When children play together, they can practice social skills such as cooperation, communication and turn-taking.

As a caregiver, you can look for toys that encourage cooperation and communication, such as board games, dolls and puppets. These types of toys can help children to develop skills such as empathy and perspective-taking.