Thursday, September 11, 2014

Never Underestimate The Benefits Of The Playground Games

By Mattie MacDonald


Fun and games on the playground has much more to it than meets they eye. This is the place where young kids learn for the first time how to interact in a group and develop a team attitude.

Most people have learnt the basics of any number of official sports during their first preschool years. The importance of both physical and emotional skills that kids acquire through participating in the playground games at school should never be underestimated. When young kids are happily playing silly little childhood games such as hopscotch, marbles or ring-a-ring-a-rosy, they are not only gaining confidence and social skills, but also making a life-long investment in their own physical and mental health.

Ballgames, rope skipping, sack races and other fun games not only keep a child fit and healthy, but are also essential for strengthening their muscles and to promote good eye-hand coordination. At the same time, it teaches them to interact socially with all kinds of people. They develop friendships and camaraderie with team mates and learn essential leadership and social skills in a playful way. Group activities also teach kids to respect one another and it gives them a sense of belonging.

There is, however, also a downside to playground games if it is not properly supervised. Young kids are normally selfish and unwilling to share. Bullying and fights can easily occur if trained teachers and coaches are not around to take control and defuse explosive situations in a proper, sensible way. Kids can be cruel to one another and victims of school bullies often suffer lasting emotional damage.

Young kids under four years of age should thus be constantly supervised. A wide variety of games are necessary to keep them interested since their attention span is still limited. Many preschools offer specialized training classes such as Playball where kids are introduced to most of the professional sport codes in a playful manner. By learning the correct techniques from young, the youngsters gain confidence and often develop a love for most sports. Mastering the art of kicking or throwing a ball boosts their self-esteem which is essential for becoming balanced, well-adjusted individuals. Children with a low self-esteem often become shy, unhappy loners or bullies

It is known that a healthy body houses a healthy mind. Active children who partake in team sport are often academically also more adept and less likely to become obese, depressed and sickly.

The benefits of healthy, outdoor activities and team sport can never be stressed enough - especially for growing kids. It equips them with social, physical and mental skills that will stand them in good stead for life. Team sport promotes responsibility, tenacity, team spirit, leadership qualities and even the ability to handle life's disappointments. And it all starts with playground games.

That silly little children's games may look like mere child's play, but it is the best educational tool in the world. It teaches young children to play with kids they don't necessarily like, to share and to respect others. Best of all, it gives kids the opportunity to be less selfish and to learn that things do not always go their way. Maybe, just maybe, the world would be a better place if there were playground games for adults too.




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