Playing Games Is Serious Business

Children of all ages love to play games.

More than just a chance to have fun, playing games are serious business when it comes to a child's health and development.

From 'Peek-a-Boo' to Hide-and-Seek, from Duck, Duck, Goose to hopscotch, the many forms of playing games enrich a child's brain, body, and life in important ways.

These can be quiet games indoors such as memory or card games to loud outdoor games involving balls, hoops, and whistles.

As children grow and learn through repetitive experiences they develop the confidence to make up their own games, they decide on rules, what to use, and who can be involved. 

 When children play games and are involved in playing games they:

• Share humour, happiness, and satisfaction
• Seek out and accept new challenges, make discoveries, and celebrate their efforts and achievements and those of others
• Develop skills to cooperate and work collaboratively with others
• Learn turn-taking skills, concentration, follow rules, make decisions
• Learn and practice maths and literacy skills, including counting and following instructions 

Giving your child plenty of opportunities to play is one of the best ways to help them grow into curious, creative, healthy, and happy adults equipped with the important life skills they will use every day.

For more ideas and resources to enhance game play visit bellbird.com.au