Child development; Importance of Games and Activities*

It has been observed that a major part and mobiles for long time which sometimes causes physical, social, emotional and psychological problems. Studies are showing that depression, obesity, hypertension are some of the health problems if a child is continuously sitting at one place for long hours without doing any physical activity and not interacting with family members, friends and other people.

Role of play in child development

The child becomes a normal, fully developed human being through doing activities which adults term as play. Care and guidance can nurture the child and their lack can destroy. Researchers have demonstrated that there is a link between play and higher mathematics, between play and conceptual thinking and play and creativity. Sometimes children should be allowed to do their own experimentation and research. Parents / caretakers may guide them by providing appropriate material. But essential thing is that in order that child understands something, they must experiment with it. It has been observed that sometimes children are serious about their activities, often trying them repeatedly without getting bored till they attain mastery over them. How Games Help?

Play meets the need for new experiences in the major ways; it enables the child to learn about the world, and it provides a mean of coping with and resolving conflicting emotions. This also reduces their stress level and brings enjoyment, as joy and whole heartedness are the universe elements of play .A good combination of different types of activities and games, played by the child can help shape in a balanced personality. It is through play that child’s physical, mental, emotional and social life grows and develops. The activities may help develop following:

• The child develops fluent, correct and clear speech
• Good communication skills
• Develops body stamina and endurance - Good physique.
• Develops Good coordination of various parts of the body - Eyes-tongue- hands, legs -feet
• Develops healthy habits
• Stimulates child’s curiosity, stimulates exploring, discovering, investigative and experimental qualities and skills.
• Develops ability for self expression.
• Develops life skills, like cooperation, team work, competitions, patience, struggle, innovativeness, empathy, and solving conflicts and problems.
• Control over anger, fear, and jealousy and helps to bring emotional stability.
• Some types of play have therapeutic value as it provides an outlet for the stored energy in the child and it releases stress, tensions which may arise due to restrictions imposed on him /her or some disappointments and failures.
• Helps child to become systematic and meticulous.
• Play helps the child to comprehend and control the world in which she / he lives. In some communities, it is the training ground for social life.
• It helps to experiment and test her / his abilities without taking full responsibilities of his actions through it.

The kind of stimuli and support given by the environment, parents, caretakers, friends, elders and other people who interact ,affects the development of children. A supportive environment develops more of the hidden potential of the child than a non supportive environment. Therefore, the true role of the parents/caretakers is to stimulate, encourage, support and guide the full and harmonious development of their children.

Here are a few guidelines which may help the parents/caretakers:

• Know your child’s real talents and temperament as every child is unique.
• Do recognize child’s value. Don’t compare children.
• Do provide a variety of and range of activities and experiences. Don’t force children to repeat same activity again and again if she/he does not want to do.
• Help child to collect and decide items for activities they need, and guide their work, but do not spoon feed them.
• Don’t force children to show their products to others.
• Make adjustments with the child’s requirements (wherever possible).
• Give close attention to the child.
• Observe how a child feels while doing some activities or otherwise.
• Let the children also experience failures sometimes, then encourage them to be patient until they turn into some kind of success. Handling stress, conflict and crises plays a role in shaping up personality of the child.
• Give your love and affection. This will help child to develop basic sense of security and acceptance.
• Provide opportunities to observe imitate and learn through watching and participating.
• For an adult observing the spontaneous play of children can be one of the delightful experiences

• Creativity, imagination aesthetic and artistic sense improves. There is more participation of the family members.
• Monuments /forts, – Visiting these places will help them understand architecture of time period and increase their knowledge of history.
• Parks, botanical gardens, fruit and flower gardens, vegetable fields/gardens and, green house and nurseries. In these places children can observe different varieties of fruits, vegetables and flowers and how they are grown.
• Zoo, Reptiles and bird sanctuary and Safari. Children can know about types and categories and habitat of birds and animals.
• Hiking ;Children can be taken for hiking. This will develop interest in nature they will observe animal kingdom, this will improve their self confidence and stamina and there will be close bonding with family members / friends .
• Ponds-Rivers-Lakes-Step Wells. Children learn about sources and storage of water, and various plants and animals living in the water.
• Science museum; Visits to these places help in enhancement of knowledge about various scientific activities carried out at various points of time.
• Doll museum; Dolls from all over the world can be seen by the children. They can observe costumes, jewelry and dressing up of various dolls.
• Rail museum; They understand history and shapes, functioning of various types of trains and engines.
• Planetarium; Children learn about planets (stars, planets and other celestial objects).
• Dance And drama shows ; Children understand and learn about various types of dance and dramas (theatre)
• Exhibitions / mela / fete ; balloon melas, food and craft bazaar, holi mela, Christmas fete, school fete, books exhibition . Children learn about various aspects as per the type of mela/exhibitions, amusement parks. In NUTRITION AND HEALTH mela children can understand various aspects related to keeping good health, importance of eating nutritious food, physical exercises and importance of regular health checkups etc.
• Manufacturing units; Children can visit industries/factories of beverages, bakery products, and cloth manufacturing units, automobiles, shoes, food processing factories like those of jams, jellies, and ice creams. They will know about raw materials used for various items, manufacturing and storage. They can observe functioning and management of the staff involved and can also see how these items reach the market.
• Village/country side: Visiting native places in villages and country side towns becomes a great learning experience for the children. They can observe lifestyle of villagers, their eating habits, occupation, infrastructure, facilities, difficulties they face, cattle, crops grown, architecture of houses, civic amenities, languages spoken and costumes and dresses etc.
• When going for a day’s picnic, the food taken should be dry, should not get spoiled quickly. Local items as per the taste of the community can be taken. Also carry napkins, some spoons, paper plates, paper bowls and drinking water and a spread/ mat

NOTE: A variety of food items are available in the market but taking a few items prepared at the home has its own fun. Care may be taken that children do not eat too heavy and spicy food as this will upset their stomach.

Also remember not to throw trash in the parks and don’t use loud music.

OUT STATION TRIP: If going for an outside trip for a pleasant travel, keep following in mind:

• In the area you are travelling, check for possible diseases outbreak and ensure to take necessary precautions. A comprehensive medical insurance may be done particularly when going for a longer and hectic travel. Immunization to immune body against some diseases may be needed particularly when going out of India.
• A first-aid kit should also be carried for medicines for diarrhea, vomiting, fever, common cold. It may also include ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt Solution), ointment for allergy, band-aids, water sterilization tablets, safety gauze, antiseptic solution and mosquito repellent cream. Medical information about the blood group of family and medicine prescribed by the doctor and any allergy family members are suffering may also be noted.
• Other items like still camera, torch, sewing needles and thread, safety pins, hot water bottles (if going to a cold place), candles ,match box etc. may also be taken.
• Take minimum number of clothes. If going to a warmer place take cotton, linen and loose clothes. If going to a cold place, take woolens, thermals, caps, coat, muffler etc. Ensure that foot wear /shoes are comfortable.
• As young children often get bored and restless during very long journeys, take non-bulky play and reading materials like playing cards, comics, coloring books, crayons, board games like snake ladder, loodo , puzzles. Other creative games like word building, story developing etc. can also be played .Children may be given their own small bag/purse that may contain their identification, small towel, handkerchief, napkins, and some eatables.

* Nirmal Tikku, Ex Deputy Director, NIPCCD , New Delhi, INDIA

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------