The meaning of the game in a child's life

Today, much attention is paid to the upbringing and development of young children. There are a huge number of techniques in this area, and often we do not know where to start, which option to choose, what opinion to listen to. But in one thing, modern psychologists are unanimous - it is impossible to overestimate the role of the game in the life of a child. She occupies a key place at the stage of formation and development of the personality of the baby, his self-awareness and socialization.

There are a lot of materials on this issue, especially since the game for children in real life is somewhat different from those of the older generation. This is due to the development of scientific research on this topic, as well as due to the development of new technologies and their availability to the public. Let's try to highlight the key positions in this issue and consider each of them in more detail.

Why is playing important?

The value of the game in the life of a child is very great. It is through her that the child learns the world, learns to interact with it, contacts with his relatives and, later, with peers and other adults, adapts to teamwork, shows imagination and ingenuity, develops logic, activates the thought process.

“Learning by playing” is the main principle that parents should adopt. Often it seems to us that during the game we forget that the child also needs to be given skills that will help him in the future in kindergarten, school, adulthood. It is important to understand that the baby receives everything he needs just in the game format. The game as a form of organizing the life and activities of children should be considered comprehensively. So, playing, baby:

• develops fine motor skills (playing with small objects, drawing, modeling, puzzles), which accelerates the development of speech skills;
• develops imagination (involvement of parents, toys, applying to himself any role from real life or a book read);
• adapts to various social situations (store, school, clinic);
• develops physically (outdoor ball games, games on the playground);
• relieves stress (motion sickness / laying dolls, active games).

This means that the task of adults is to organize the playing space correctly, give the child the opportunity to show imagination, and also direct his activity in the right direction, explaining the basic norms and rules of behavior through the game. And, of course, to participate in the kid’s undertakings, because that’s how he feels himself to be part of society and family, feels himself necessary, and receives the necessary communication.

When should you start playing with your baby?

A question that almost all parents are asked. So, you can and should play from birth, it is only important to adapt the activity to the age of the child, gradually complicating the activities already familiar to him. “How to do this,” you ask, “given that newborn babies don’t know anything? And it would seem worth the wait when they grow up and gain minimal skills.”

Playing in the life of a young child should be a must. The thing is that the kids get the basic skills by talking with us. First, the cub looks at how parents manipulate various objects: rattles, toys, household items (sponges, coils, wooden shovels). And then the child himself begins to hold and move the same objects, repeating after us. He repeats movements, gestures, facial expressions. What is not a game?

With older kids, there are much more options for the game. By the year they are ready to collect and disassemble the pyramids, sorters, remain alone for a small amount of time and occupy themselves, they have their own preferences. Games of children of the third year of life become even more diverse: the child shows imagination, draws toys into the situation to be played, is able to occupy himself while his mother is passionate about household chores.

Recall that the game in the life of the child has a key role. It is important to use the game format in communication with the baby as early as possible and as often as possible, because this is how he learns the world.

What types of games are there?

We repeat that the game in the life of a child is very important, and it is necessary to use various types of games for its full development. There is a generally accepted classification of games with children. It is convenient to present it in the form of the following diagram:

Let's look in order and give examples.

An experimental game is a game based on conducting experiments. Such games will be interesting to children of the middle and senior preschool groups (that is, as a game for children of the third year of life and older), since they require concentration, perseverance. The experiment can be divided into 3 stages:

• the child observes the experiment: it is necessary to interest the baby, do not start with a boring theory, show the "class", and he will be ready to listen to you;
• the child is preparing an experiment with an adult: it is very important at this stage to actively help the child, make him understand the principle of action and gain courage for further independent activity;
• the child is experimenting himself: adult control is also necessary at this stage, but here you can give the young scientist freedom of action and get involved in the process only at the request of himself.

Similar types of games in the life of a preschool child develop a creative approach, interest in science, the ability to collect and process information, and a craving for cognitive activity. During the experiments, do not forget to suggest the baby first to build a hypothesis (to assume what should be obtained from experience), then confirm or refute it experimentally and draw conclusions (what happened, what is not, why). This will teach him the consistent presentation of thoughts, structuring and explanation of what he saw, and, of course, it will definitely come in handy in later life.

As an example of such games, the sets “Young Chemist”, “Entertaining Biology” and others are perfect. They are sold at any children's store, and their selection is huge. You can organize an experiment at home, for example, by growing onions from a bulb. Show your imagination. Not only babies, but also their parents will like to experiment.

Games with rules - we are talking about games according to certain established rules, which are often formed historically (napkins, hide and seek). Depending on the situation and desire, they can be supplemented or new conditions come up with the kids.

Such games in the life of a young child develop communication skills, because they are often team-based. We are talking about both confrontation and rivalry, as well as coordinated teamwork to achieve the best overall result. This is very important for the development and socialization of children.

Such games are divided into the following subtypes:

• Didactic - games in the life of a child aimed at developing perseverance, attention and following the rules. As a rule, they are equipped with certain equipment (cards, the game "Try to catch up"), but the conditions are most often severely limited, there is also a system of fines and rewards, which actively teaches the child to follow certain limits.
• Movable - the basis of the game is motor activity. It is more convenient to conduct such classes in the fresh air or in a specially equipped room (sports corner at home or in kindergarten, for example). Preschool children need to move a lot, it is inherent in nature. We only need to direct activity in the right direction and ensure, as far as possible, the safety of the child. It is also worth noting here that we are not talking about sports sections: sport is important and necessary, but is aimed at honing the necessary skills only for this type. It is important for us to harmoniously and comprehensively develop a child, which means that bast shoes or hide and seek will be much more effective than, say, basketball. It is important to instill a child with a love for such activities, especially in the era of computer games, because, as you know, it is extremely difficult to get rid of an established habit. So let the habits be good.

Creative games - games entirely aimed at the development of creative thinking, fantasy. They are quite complicated for an adult, because you can not predict in advance what and how a child will do, which means that it will not work.

They are divided into the following subtypes:

• Role-playing games in a child’s life - playing real-life situations or stories from your favorite books and cartoons. Since such classes provide for the distribution of roles and following a certain outline of the plot, they allow the child to try on various social roles (doctor, mother, villain from a fairy tale), and also clearly show what is good and what is bad, help them learn better and faster or other standards. Among other things, the baby is actively developing speech and memory.
• Building-structural - various constructors, cubes and other materials that allow the child to show imagination and realize it with the help of certain tools. The game is not limited to one set of objects, you can connect several of them, this will make the process even more interesting and diverse.
• Theatrical - in fact, this is the same plot and role-playing game in the life of a child, but providing for the presence of spectators (it can be parents or, for example, peers). Among other things, theatrical performances allow you to overcome the baby's embarrassment, teach communication with the public, the ability to clearly and with expression.

Fun games are comic, relaxing activities. It can be various nursery rhymes, finger games, games for repetition (we repeat actions behind the leader) or, for example, tickling. The role of such a game in a child’s life is that it allows you to relax, relieve stress both for adults and children.

All possible types of activities should be included in communication with the child, so that his personality can develop harmoniously. In this case, he will grow mobile, well-mannered, assiduous, with teamwork and public speaking skills. All this, one way or another, will be useful to him both during school and in adulthood. Parents should first of all set an example that the child should be guided by, and any child will be able to accept, master and apply the idea he sees to himself.

With whom and how do children play?

It is impossible to unequivocally answer a similar question. The child’s choice of “who to play with” depends on his level of development, nature, preferences, real existing practice of the game in his life.

So, for example, those who are constantly in the field of vision of their parents and are not able to study independently, at any age will look back at what their mother will say and what idea she will give him. Kids who already go to kindergarten, willingly play with peers on the street, and at home organize games not only with parents, but also with toys.

Naturally, as they grow older, children increase the circle of objects involved in their game. So, a newborn is ready to watch how his mother and father are occupied, but by the year the child is on the street, his peers and those older are already interested. Toddlers of the third year of life actively take into the game both adults and children, and their toys.

Our task is to give freedom of choice to a small person. Of course, one cannot refuse help all the time if the child asks, but gently direct, offer to fantasize him independently in our power. Of course, parents should be near, because we are the main support and support of our children. Just do not control their every step. And, no matter how difficult it may seem at first, over time it will become clear that freedom of choice is an important stage in the development of our children. It is necessary to perceive the game as a form of organizing the lives of children, and not just as entertainment.

How to organize the game and how to help the child?

Correctly organizing the playing space is very important, since the game takes a leading place in the life of the child. In this matter, it is worth following several rules:

• Safety comes first. The children's room should be spacious and bright, as well as sufficiently humid (30-60% humidity is considered the norm) and not hot (leading pediatricians advise 18-22 ° C). It is necessary to choose convenient interior items so that the child has access to toys, but they all had their place. In addition, this will teach the baby accuracy and responsibility, because everything in the room will need to be removed in its place, say, before bedtime.
• Functionality. Furniture should be selected as comfortable and meeting their requirements as possible; do not pile up space. It will also be great if interior items such as a table and chair “grow” with the child, which will allow parents to significantly save the budget, since modern manufacturers offer many similar options.
• Availability. Shelves with books, boxes with toys - everything should be in the public domain for the child. This is how the baby can choose what and how to play with.

It is also worth noting that if there are a large number of toys, you can divide them into groups (dolls, soft toys, cars, musical instruments) and change them for your child, for example, once a week. So the game in the life of the child will become even more diverse.

Where to get ideas for games?

Today, there are many resources for playing and educating children of preschool and primary school age. It can be the Internet: various sites, blogs, articles, videos, as well as print publications on this topic. Do not forget about our own imagination: we were all once children, it is only important to relax and devote time to the child, he will tell you what to do.

Early development - is it worth it to get involved?

Today, parents are more and more interested in the topic of early development, they offer children various developmental activities, cards. We try to focus on the development of the baby’s intelligence, his mental abilities. Sometimes it takes several hours for mom to prepare such exercises, but the baby may not be at all interested in the proposed activity. Common situation? How to be? It is important to understand that the initiative of the parents is important, but should be limited in order to give the child the opportunity to choose a game, show his imagination, involve anyone in the game. While playing, he leads the process, while in the rest of his life he is in a subordinate position due to his age.

Of course, you should not ignore the methods of early development, but you should know the measure. Educational games in the life of a child must be present. Excessively imposing such activities on young children, we deprive them of the possibility of choice and self-realization, and also limit its creative beginning. Playing in the life of a child of preschool age is much more important, it is always worth remembering this.

Here are some examples of early development techniques, some readers might be interested in some of them:

1. Doman's cards - pictures on various topics (animals, vehicles, fruits, etc.) with the title and tasks on the back. There are in different languages. They need to be shown to the baby several times a day, so the child will be able to remember the visual image of the subject and its writing.
2. Montessori Methods - a series of books on the upbringing and development of children. The idea can be formulated with the phrase "help me do it myself." The technique is aimed at ensuring that the child himself learns and learns new things experimentally, and not through the explanations of adults.
3. Nikitins methodology - is aimed at independent development and cognition of the world by the baby. The bottom line is that we do not teach the child, but only create a favorable atmosphere for him to learn.
4. Waldorf pedagogy - divides the development of the child into 3 stages: up to 7 years of education through imitation of adults, from 7 to 14 we connect feelings and emotions, after 14 years we add logic. It also emphasizes the lack of access to a TV and computer for preschool children.
5. Zaitsev’s cubes - a set of manuals in the form of cubes for learning speech, reading, mathematics, English, passing in a game format using audio recordings.

In any case, the role of the game in the life of preschool children is very large, but parents decide whether or not to emphasize a specific development plan. There are a great many options and techniques; Is it worth sticking to any one trend or is it better to take a little from each idea - the choice is ours.

What to do when there is no time for games?

Often we hear complaints from parents, especially working mothers and fathers, that they simply do not have enough time to play with the baby. How to be in such a situation? Two aspects are important here:

1. You need to play with the child. This statement does not imply a waste of all the parent's free time on the game.It is necessary to devote several hours to your child (scientists advise to devote 3-4 hours a week to such classes). You should not leave everything for one day, such as Saturday, to communicate with the child. Let it be better for half an hour, but every day. Playing in the life of a preschool child is extremely important. After all, not receiving the full attention of the parents, the baby feels forgotten and uninteresting, which in the future may entail great psychological problems.
2. Unable to devote enough time to the kid to play, try to get him involved in household chores: cleaning, cooking. In this situation, though, household chores will take a little more time, but a child of preschool age, and a school one, too, will feel necessary, moreover, he will know what helps parents and appreciate his help. And then, such activities are perceived by children as a game, although they are quoted by adults as a necessity. In addition, the baby will know what to do at home, and will also acquire certain skills in such activities (how to wash dishes, how to knead the dough, how to cut bread, how to vacuum and others).

It turns out that it is always possible to find time for children, it is only important to understand the need for such events, as well as to correctly prioritize, good, adult life teaches us this daily.

Computer games - a problem or help?

The topic of a computer game in the life of modern children is discussed quite vigorously, especially in the last few decades, in connection with the development of new technologies and the ubiquitous presence of computers in our world. The opinions of scientists were divided into two camps:

1. Computer games provoke aggression in real life. The point is that, in the opinion of this group of scientists, children who play a lot at the computer, especially in all kinds of "shooters", behave inappropriately in the real world, are prone to violence, aggression and suicide.
2. Children, often playing computer games, behave less aggressively in society, spill out all their negative energy in the virtual world.

So who is right? Most likely, there is no single opinion here and cannot be. It all depends on the psychological type of a particular person and his environment. It is important to understand that we cannot completely protect the child from virtual reality, but we can and should dose information. First of all, do not allow children of primary preschool age to computers / tablets / televisions: up to three years, for a full comprehensive development, the child needs real communication and interaction. Otherwise, there may be consequences in the form of inhibited development and poor adaptation in society.

However, today already in elementary school, kids prepare reports and make presentations on a computer. So, you need to get acquainted with this "beast". It is important to give information in batches: a general acquaintance with the technique, the skills of the simplest work, games to develop memory / reaction / attention. Giving your child the opportunity to work on computer technology, you need to worry about security: put locks on unwanted folders and sites (toys for dad / mom, adult sites, e-wallets, etc.).

It is clear that you can’t save older children, as they say. But it is in our power to occupy and interest the child outside of virtual reality: games with peers, communication with parents, housework, sports, and educational circles. If he has something to do, he is unlikely to sit down to play at the computer, and will contact him only if necessary (for example, homework at school).

What else is important to know about the game as a method of education and the formation of the personality of the baby?

The game in the life of the child takes an important place, because it is considered as a form of his education. It is through her that the child learns socialization, tempers character, learns etiquette, develops intelligence, perceives moral values. And this is how the personality of the child is formed.

Surely many parents noticed that most everyday tasks, whether dressing / undressing, eating, folding toys in place or bathing, are perceived by the child as a game. It is often much more effective to convey your thoughts to the kid through the gameplay: show on toys, explain when in contact with peers. And even if it seems to us that the baby "goes too far" and does not act frivolously, most likely this is not a conscious action, but a subconscious attempt to comprehend the demands of adults through the world accessible to him, that is, through the game. It is important for adults to catch this fine line and try to help their child cope with the task as much as possible. We should not do anything instead of children, but we can show by our own example that things love their places, that they fight badly, that they need to share. Believe me, a child learns very quickly in a playful way, and what he did with soft toys yesterday can already be demonstrated today in real communication, for example, in a kindergarten or when shopping in a grocery store.

Another important point that I would like to emphasize is praise. Praise your children: for the fulfilled request, for the matryoshka correctly assembled, for the cleaned things. That is how he will be able to understand what is on the right track. And if today the baby heard that he was a great fellow, because he had eaten all the porridge, then tomorrow he will first grab the spoon in anticipation of breakfast, it will be important for us only to repeat to him that he does everything right and helps this mother very much.

Playing in your child’s life is key. It is she who helps the personality to develop comprehensively, to know the world around him, to understand it, motivates, teaches communication and interaction. The game in the child’s life not only allows parents to establish communication with a small person, but also makes it possible to occupy it for a while without their participation, which is also important.

There is a huge amount of material on this issue, it is only important to adapt the information to a specific baby or group of children, depending on age and level of development. Do not be afraid to experiment, try different options, there are many helpers in the modern world (sites, blogs, specific specialists). The value of the game in the life of a child, scientists consider it huge. It is only important to remember that children are personalities with their own preferences, they will certainly find their way, and we, adults, can and should help a small person to adapt in this world.