The Value of Play in Early Childhood

Play is children’s therapy - they work through worries, curiosities, fears, and triumphs through their play. Having limited language and less conceptual experience, nature has provided young mammals with this way to learn what the grown-ups know.

At school, we teach children that games are for having fun, and if someone in the game is not having fun, the game should change. This gives the children opportunities to practice reading faces and listening to each other’s words. The adult’s work is to be aware of the dynamics of play, and point out choices and options when the children need guidance. We take advantage of opportunities to voice our own peaceful values by commenting on situations that arise.

Through play your child is trying to find out who he or she is in the world. A child learns about personal physical abilities and limits, about what is interesting and/or tolerated by individual friends or the group, and about how to negotiate a difference of opinion with friends. Children learn to be empathic through playground interactions. They are using critical thinking skills and negotiation, and are learning to read body and facial language.

Peace is modeled and taught through loving and caring relationships. Play is our best ally.