How play brings out the best out of kids during vacations

Vacations are meant to be a break from school activities, but often, to the contrary, kids seem to have busier, packed days during the holidays! While it is certainly valuable to enroll kids in various interest-based activities, it is important to ensure that they are not overwhelmed with activities.

Sometimes, it is important for kids to set aside and indulge in unstructured playtime with their toys or games, whether on their own or along with their friends. It is a well-established idea now that play aids in the development of not only physical but also sensorial, social and cognitive skills in children while helping them to also explore self-expression and acquire self-assurance. It is through play that children not only dream up new imaginary tales but also gain the curiosity and confidence to explore new experiences. In fact, learning through play is a well-defined concept in both education and psychology, which demonstrates how children decipher and interpret the world around them through their interactions with toys or games.

Ishmeet Singh, Country Manager – India, Mattel Inc. said, “When play is incorporated into a learning system, it becomes easier for kids to grasp complicated concepts and relate them to real-world applications. Kids develop a sense of inquisitiveness during their play time and question how things work.”

Play-time creates a relaxed environment, promoting a low pressure setting for a child to discover and experiment freely. Moreover, play-time is one that encourages active involvement and engagement – a child interacts with his or her toys and other friends or adults who may be around. This opens up newer dimensions for children, exposing them to novel ideas, collaborations and perspectives. It is imperative to ensure a healthy balance of activities spanning both interest and hobby based activities and outdoor or social interactions, interspersed with sufficient unstructured play-time to unwind and relax.