Why play matters to primary school children

Play has the power to support your child’s development in many ways. Amongst other things, it can help them:

• Become better at communicating
• Process the experiences they have during the day
• Think about their feelings and thoughts
• Learn about boundaries
• Develop empathy
• Use critical thinking skills 

It also has educational benefits. ‘It’s an enjoyable way to learn academic skills such as counting and reading, as well as teaching a wide range of life skills,’ says play expert Dr Amanda Gummer, founder of the Good Play Guide.

Play is an evolving process, from the baby days of Peekaboo! to online gaming in teens (and beyond!).
 
‘In early childhood, we see rich imaginative play, where children learn through exploration,’ says Joanna.
 
‘The emotional part of the brain is developing quickly at this stage, and play is their roadmap.’
 
As children move into middle childhood (around eight to 12 years old), play patterns usually change.
 
‘They tend move a little away from imaginative play, and into more structured play, such as scooters, bikes and skateboarding, as well as play with their peers, like football and chasing.’
 
At this stage, many also get into gaming on digital devices: a trend that generally continues into the teenage years.
 
‘This is normal, and aligns with their developmental need to pull a little further away from parents and prioritise peer relationships, while grappling with increased independence,’ Joanna explains.
 
But while the changes in children’s play are partly developmental, peer pressure also has an impact.
 
‘There’s a lot of pressure on children to grow up quickly, and playing with toys can be seen as something younger children do,’ says Dr Gummer.
 
‘There’s often a public rejection of toy play as children progress through primary school, but most will still play with toys in private, or with siblings or close friends.’

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which includes Nursery and Reception, the Department for Education specifies that learning should be mostly through games and play.
 
This can happen in a range of ways: role play, water play, sensory play, songs and rhymes, outdoor play, PE, and many, many more.
 
‘Learning through play is vital, precisely because play is learning,’ says Joanna.
 
‘It supports their physical, psychological and neurological growth and development.’
 
As children progress beyond the EYFS into Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), there’s a shift from play-based learning towards more table-top learning.
 
At this stage, there are set curriculum subjects that must be taught (including English, maths, science, history, geography and RE), and mandatory tests to be taken: the phonics screening check in Year 1, and SATs at the end of Year 2.
 
While some children thrive on a more formal approach to learning, others understandably struggle with the reduction in play.
 
‘Children are still developing emotionally, and rely heavily on play as their most effective and meaningful communication tool,’ Joanna explains.
 
‘At this age, they do better with techniques that focus on “doing,” and this is precisely why play-based learning needs to be extended.’
 
Into KS2, play in the classroom reduces further, mainly because of the focus on attainment, particularly in the case of SATs, which are used as a measure of schools’ performance.
 
‘As children grow older, their concentration span lengthens and they’re more able to sit and listen, so I think the reduction of play is largely a classroom management technique that has been used for generations,’ says Dr Gummer.
 
‘But adopting an ethos of play and prioritising outdoor activities, games-based learning and freedom for children to choose their play activities can be hugely beneficial for the whole school.’

Although play is squeezed out of the primary curriculum as children get older, they still benefit enormously from play outside the classroom, and you can support this at home.
 
The type of play you engage in will depend on your child’s age and stage, but could be anything from board games, Lego and craft to den-building, scavenger hunts and, of course, gaming on devices.
 
‘It’s important to use both child-led play and child-focused but adult-led play,’ says Joanna. So you could suggest doing a jigsaw together if your child is at a loose end, or let them play freely in their bedroom when they’re in the right frame of mind.
 
Taking stock of what your child is playing with can also be helpful.
 
‘Too many toys can actually make it more difficult for children to find something to do, so I rotate toys by moving some into the attic and leaving a lot less stuff lying around,’ Joanna suggests.
 
‘This makes it easier for children to identify something to play with and rediscover toys they’d forgotten they even had.’
 
Screen-time is often seen as the enemy of play, but is actually a form of play in itself.
 
‘Social games and educational apps can be beneficial for children, so rather than demonising screens, help your child to engage positively with them,’ advises Dr Gummer.
 
‘If they’re allowed a reasonable amount of screen time, they’ll then be more receptive to other play ideas, especially if it means they get time to play with their parents.’

While some parents love playing with their children, others find it more difficult. It may feel unnatural, time-consuming or even boring.
 
‘We all have the capacity to play and be playful, but for some of us, our play muscles may be a little stiff,’ says Joanna.
 
‘Starting small and building up is good enough. If you feel you don’t know much about play, rest assured that your child is an expert, and you can do some child-led play where you simply ask if you can join their game and follow their lead.
 
‘Even if you feel so exhausted you can’t get out of your armchair, you can still play with your child.’
 
Dr Gummer advises recognising your strengths and using those as you play with your child.
 
‘It’s not a case of one size fits all,’ she explains. ‘One parent may be really good at reading stories and baking with their child; another may love board games and construction toys; someone else might like getting dressed up and playing pirates, or going on make-believe adventures.
 
‘While it’s important for your child to have a balanced play diet, you don’t have to be involved in all of it, so find the things you do enjoy and do more of these, while helping your child access other types of play so they’re getting a healthy balance.’

At this time of lockdown, where most children are at home 24/7 and many parents are also trying to work, play might feel especially difficult, and more like a chore than ever.
 
‘The younger the child, the shorter the attention span, so structure your work sessions accordingly,’ says Dr Gummer.
 
‘Allow yourself time to set your child up with a short activity, and explain that if they let you get some work done in peace, you’ll have time to play later – but if they keep interrupting, you may not have as much time to play.’
 
Joanna suggests using a 15-minute timer to give your day structure. ‘Say that for 15 minutes you’ll play together, then for two 15-minute turns you’ll do work and schoolwork, and then they’ll get another turn to play before another 30 minutes’ work,’ she says.
 
You can also use other members of the family to help entertain your child. ‘Video calls with friends and family – such as grandparents reading your child a story – can give you a bit more freedom to get work done,’ Dr Gummer explains.
 
Another complicating factor is that children are currently unable to play with friends unless they can maintain social distancing, and playgrounds, clubs and sports teams are all closed.
 
‘Outdoor activity is no longer limited, so encourage your child to be outside and active as much as possible so they’re staying healthy and burning off energy,’ says Dr Gummer.
 
‘Indoor play can be active, too – such as making obstacle courses or dens in the living room – and as we can’t have visitors at the moment, you don’t have to worry about how tidy the place is.’
 
Joanna agrees that there are still plenty of opportunities for play in lockdown. ‘You can semi-structure play by leaving some clues around for an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt, build forts, play chasing, skipping, musical statues or hide and seek,’ she suggests.
 
‘But be kind to yourself: it’s natural to be finding this time difficult.
 
‘Focus on being “good enough,” and don’t let one bad day write off your week.’