Play and fun are activities only children will relate best. It’s a secret code that brings joy to our kids regardless of the age and abilities. Play is the sole channel that kids learn, explore, and make sense of the environment around them. Unlocking toddler growth through educational play helps them to explore, experiment, and engage in self-directed activities. This allows them to build essential cognitive skills and broaden their world understanding.

Playful learning provides an engaging and enjoyable way for toddlers to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Educational play catalyzes toddler’s brain growth by encouraging them to use their mind and body while playing. It also sets the groundwork for shaping their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth.

Benefits of educational play for toddlers

Helping your kid see the value of educational play can be a life-changing experience for the family. Here are some of the benefits of educational play for toddlers. They are as follows;

• Stimulates early brain development

Educational play to toddlers helps by providing a better understanding of the surroundings and setting the groundwork for later brain growth. They develop the following with early brain development;

• They have the power of imagination and creativity
• Toddlers are capable of problem-solving on their own
• They acquire the concept of recognition of shapes, colors, measurements, and counting numbers
• Children gain strengths of concentration, persistence, and flexibility.

• Promotes impulse control and emotion regulation

Self-regulation strongly predicts a toddler’s social success and school readiness. Well-regulated kids can wait for a turn and resist the temptation to grab other kids' things.

• Improves communication and child language

It improves communication, vocabulary, and language by allowing toddlers to practice new vocabulary when they speak and try to understand others. Playtime will enable children to practice their language skills in a low-pressure environment. The skills gained from communication and language include;

• The child learns how to listen attentively and speak
• Improves in writing skills through drawing and painting
• Gets to know that learning letters, words, symbols, numerals, and signs is essential and meaningful to others.
• The toddler gets an increased understanding of words and their use
• They learn that objects can stand for something else, like a piece of block symbolizing a telephone.
• Boosts creative thinking of the toddler

Educational play boosts the child's creative thinking by exploring possible solutions and generating new ideas. During play, they stretch their imaginations by making rules and learning to follow them correctly.

• Encourages greater independence

Kids often have little power over their daily activities and spend much of their days being told what to do. Educational play helps children to develop a stronger sense of independence. They feel more capable of tackling other tasks independently and figuring out how they fit in.

• Encourages imagination

Educational play can incorporate make-believe activities that foster imagination.

• Fosters social skills

When kids play together, they usually practice social skills. Educational play helps kids with their communication, empathy, and problem-solving methods. This means creating an easier transition from one grade to the other.

• This leads to happier toddlers.

Educational play results in a happier child as they feel absolute joy getting to pursue their favorite form of play

• Assist children to cope with stress.

Children will have a lot to deal with as they grow old, like peer pressure, friendship issues, and stress over their grades. Educational play can help them learn how to rebalance their stress and cope with their daily pressures.

• Better physical health

The movements they experience during educational play will strengthen them and give them more endurance and motor skill development. The kids will;

• Improve balance and coordination
• Build strength and endurance in a kid's body

• Kids are more sociable.

Educational play improves your kid’s social skills when playing with other children around them. This provides opportunities for kids to;

• Toddlers learn to control their emotions by reducing stress as they act out feelings and events that might worry them.
• The kids practice working with other kids, negotiating ideas, and making their own choices.
• They develop self-confidence by experiencing success and the challenges they face in their lives.
• They develop empathy and fairness as they learn to play alongside other kids.

• Express their emotions

Educational play helps children of all ages deal with what they feel, whether happy, sad, or scared. During this time, they will let out their emotions, learn to tap into everything they think and feel, and find a constructive way to deal with it.

How to contribute to unlocking toddlers' growth through educational play

Educational play helps develop critical skills, understanding, and dispositions essential for your kid’s lifelong learning and well-being. Here are some tips on how you can contribute to unlocking toddlers' growth through educational play. They are as follows;

• Create time to play with your child and educate them on the mistakes they make
• Advocating for safe and exciting play spaces in your surroundings
• Sharing information about your kid’s interests and abilities with their educators
• Providing the required resources for play to the child