Play: Key to Learning - TeachersAndFamilies

Play: Key to Learning
By Deborah Johnson, PhD, &
Stephen P. Demanchick, MSEd, NCC
The Children’s Institute

 

Introduction

Play is a natural and universal act for children. It is an inherent part of children’s lives that allows for fun and relaxation while supporting development and learning. Children’s fantasy or symbolic play, for example, often serves to help a youngster cope with the demands and pressures of the adult world. In The Hurried Child, Dr. David Elkind reminds us how important play is for children in our world. He writes that “… play is nature’s way of dealing with stress for children as well as adults…. As parents, we can help by investing in toys and playthings that give the greatest scope to the child’s imagination” (2001, p.197).

 

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Parenting Start

Deborah Johnson, MS, NCSP, is the Director of Community Services for the Children’s Institute and National Director of the Primary Mental Health Project in Rochester, NY. She does extensive training in adapting play therapy to the school setting and implementing mental health prevention and promotion programs in schools. Stephen P. Demanchick, MSEd, NCC, is a Research Assistant at the Children's Institute and Scholar at the University of Rochester. This article is adapted from their handout which appeared in Helping Children at Home and School II: Handouts for Families and Educators, published in 2004 by the National Association of School Psychologists.
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