Dear Parents

Three very important words for kindergarten age children - play, play, play. There are many different types of play, at ICS we believe that children learn best when they play, so our activities involve purposeful play. We also have times of free play when children can play on the carpet with their classmates and develop their social and emotional skills. We also have times of active play when they children can run and climb in the playground or be creative with the foam blocks in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) or ride a tricycle.

However, it is important for children to have unstructured play rather than filling up all their time with extra classes or structure activities. As a child gets older, play is still important even as they move on to Elementary school.

Over the next few months, we will be talking with parents about their child’s behavior in school and about whether their child is able to focus and learn and be independent in their learning. Whenever school gives advice to parents about how to help their child, we always emphasize to do it in a child friendly and playful way.  When a child is not focused in school, we often ask, “How much sleep is your child getting?” I now would like to add in a second question “How much time does your child play?” Play is when a child develops their cognitive skills (thinking), problem solving and their creativity and imagination as well as developing social and emotional skills. For some games there are rules to follow – you cannot just do whatever you want. Sometimes you need to wait your turn. Sometimes with more imaginative games or role-plays, you may need to be flexible to adapt to changes in the play. All these aspects help your child to regulate their behavior and their emotions and will help them in school. However, if all a child’s time is fully structured with extra classes or with an adult telling them what to do, this limits their own ability to problem solve or make decisions for themselves.  

So if your child needs to develop their emotional regulation - PLAY!  

But play a game where your child needs to wait, maybe they lose and need to learn about how to cope with disappointment. Play a game with rules – you need to wait your turn; you can only have 1 color playing piece and maybe someone else chose your favorite color. Maybe you need to see what others do when they lose, parents please model the correct behavior of you want your child to behave when they lose. Parents can explain their feelings out loud to help their child to put words to those emotions.

Children need to experience life, not everything goes your way every time.

If children always win, or parents always let a child do everything they want as soon as they want it, then children do not learn the ability to delay gratification or to wait. Letting your child get disappointed or upset when they did not win helps your child learn to regulate their emotions.

If you want your child to learn social skills – Play!

But play with other of the same age (as adults or older children adapt their behavior to suit the younger child, children of the same age do not. So, your child can learn to adapt to not getting their own way all the time)!

Please take a look at the attached websites that explains more about the different types of play and the benefits of play.

So play, play, play - if you have time, sit on the floor with your child and let them share their play with you. Playing together is good for adults too!