Children develop normally when they are exposed to different types of play that allow them to express themselves while using their imagination and being physically active. According to the Center for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness, “play is child's work”; this is true because it is the child's job to learn and develop in the first years of life, in order to do this, he plays. Not only is play a full-time job for a child, but the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has designated play as a right of every child. Through their full-time play, children develop emotionally, socially, physically and creatively. Children need to participate in child-led play to facilitate healthy development of their mind, body and creativity. Play directly influences how children develop both emotionally and socially. Children learn how to express their emotions and deal with their feelings as they experiment with different characters in their play. Play offers children a “harmless outlet for their pent-up aggression” (CHETN). This is displayed when a child becomes angry, upset, or stressed about a situation in their life; these young children may not be old enough or have the proper communication tools to convey what they are feeling. Therefore they can choose to play with objects that describe the emotions they feel and try to cope with. Simply put, a child will use play to explain how they feel rather than act in a negative way (Wehrman 351). This not only works for the child when expressing emotions, but can also be effective for entire families in dealing with emotions. When families get together and play, they can be “less analytical and intellectual and more… paper-focused… and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-2697Isenberg, J.P., & Jalongo, M.R. (n.d.). Why is play important? Social and emotional development, physical development, creative development. In Creative thinking and artistic learning from kindergarten to fourth grade (2006 ed., pp. 53-55). Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/importance-play--social-emotional/Murray, L.J. (Ed.). (2010). Baby: The very important first year. New York City, NY: DK. Pasquariello, P.S., Jr. (ed.). (1999). Book on pregnancy and baby care. New York City, NY: John Wiley & Sons. Wehrman, J. D., & Field, J. E. (2013). Game-based activities in family counseling. American Journal of Family Therapy, 14(4), 341-352. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2012.704838
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