The Invaluable Tool of Intentional Play
THE INVALUABLE TOOL OF INTENTIONAL PLAY
Every adult wants to see the children in their life grow, develop, and learn. But the “how” can feel confusing at times, as you’ll often hear mixed messages from advertisements, influencers, social media, and other parents. It’s really pretty simple, though!
It’s through P-L-A-Y…specifically, intentional play.
What is it?
Also known as purposeful play, this type of play is where an adult creates a specific environment or activity with a goal in mind. Rather than directing a child’s play step-by-step, it’s about setting the stage for a child to explore, discover, and learn independently. While this kind of play can look vastly different depending on the adult, child, and circumstances, there are four characteristics of intentional play that are constant:
Purposeful: The play activity is designed to promote specific skills or knowledge, such as fine motor skills, problem-solving, or social interaction.
Child-Led: While adults set up the activity, children are free to explore and engage with the materials in their own way.
Engaging: The activity is designed to be fun and interesting for the child, capturing their attention and motivation.
Adaptable: The activity can be adjusted to meet the child's individual needs and interests.
Why do it?
While most anyone would say playing is good for children, parents, educators, and pediatric professionals have found that intentional play has some very specific benefits. Those include:
Promotes Development: Intentional play can target specific skills and areas of development, such as language, cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development.
Encourages Creativity: It fosters creativity and imagination by providing open-ended materials and activities.
Enhances Learning: It creates opportunities for children to learn through hands-on experiences and exploration.
Builds Confidence: It allows children to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them in a safe and supportive environment.
Strengthens Relationships: It can be a fun and meaningful way for adults and children to interact and bond.
What does it look like?
Intentional play is as diverse and unique as the children participating in it. It can look like many things, such as:
Sensory Bins: Containers filled with various materials (rice, beans, sand, water) for children to explore textures and engage their senses.
Building Blocks: Children can freely build structures, which promotes creativity, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning.
Pretend Play: By setting up a kitchen or store, children can engage in imaginative play, which develops language, social skills, and creativity.
Art and Craft Activities: With materials like paint, markers, and playdough, children can explore their creativity and fine motor skills.
Outdoor Play: Nature walks, scavenger hunts, playing with balls, or blowing bubbles promote physical activity and exploration.
Can I do it?
Incorporating intentional play into a child’s life isn’t complicated or difficult. You just simply need to:
Observe: Notice the child’s interests and developmental needs.
Plan: Choose and prepare activities that align with your child's interests and developmental goals.
Support: Provide a safe and engaging environment for play, with access to a variety of materials and resources.
Be Present: Let the child take the lead, but continue to be engaged by offering encouragement and support.
By incorporating intentional play into a child's routine, you can foster their development, creativity, and love of learning. It's a valuable tool for parents, and those who work with children, to use to support children's growth and well-being.
Written by Ashlie Thomas, Contributing Writer