2. “We are never more fully alive, more completely
ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything
than when we are playing”
– Charles Schaefer
3. Play in children
A child’s business & pleasure
Universal & individualized for all children.
Promotes growth and development.
Has no serious motive & no material gain
A natural and spontaneous social behavior
Depends upon age, sex, interest, personality, ability, cultural,
patterns and socio-economic status
Play, playtime and playmates decrease as the age increase.
4. Importance of Play
In Wellness In illness (Therapeutic)
Physical development Regaining lost musculoskeletal
function/ power
Intellectual and educational
development
Overcoming stranger/ separation
anxiety
Emotional development Overcoming fear of procedures
Social development Social interaction with health
workers
Moral development
5. Physical development
Development of muscular and sensory abilities –
By running, climbing, riding cycle…
Learning coordinated movements and skills
Learning to differentiate sensations by visual,
auditory and tactile stimulations through the use of
play materials.
6. Intellectual and Educational Development
Learning color, size, shape, number, distance, height, speed,
name of the objects etc.
Creative activity, problem solving, abstract thinking,
imagination, communication and speech development
Improves attention span and concentration
Making a difference between reality and fantasy
Experiencing the thrill of achievement.
7. Emotional development
Expressing fear, anxiety, anger, joy
Enhancing coping abilities – Reduces stress and strain and removes
irritability and destructiveness
Communication with others
Outlet for negative feeling – A safety valve to release emotional
tension, reduce emotional trauma.
Socialization - Interacting with playmates by sharing, understanding,
communicating
8. Moral development
Learnt from parents, teachers and other adults.
Right vs wrong; honesty, sportsmanship & value system.
Learning responsibility.
Creativity and independence
9. Play in Infants
Unoccupied, onlooker, solitary independent, social
affective, sensorimotor (sense pleasure), imitation
10. Play for Infants…
Hang bright objects, shiny objects within 20 to 25 cm,
colour sheets
Play music box ,radio, ticking clock, rattles, soft
squeezing toys
Hold the infant ,cuddle, clapping hands, show the place
around, leave on floor to crawl
Peek-a-boo, drums, sponge toys, teddy bears
Play ball by rolling it, building blocks, cup and spoon
11. Play in Toddlers
Parallel, associative, inquisitive, disorganized,
distractible, skill play
12. Play for Toodlers…
Pull and push toys
Rocking horse
Building blocks
Pounding board
Clay
Kitchen set
Mirror, crayons
Appropriate TV programs
Hide and seek
13. Play in Preschool Children
Imaginative/ dramatic play – Identifying self
with an adult
Structured formal play – In late preschool years.
Loosely organized
Active, repetitive
15. Play in School Children
Formal games - Competitive sports, games
Creative, organized, cooperative
Hobbies for recreation and diversion.
Imitation and dramatizing more complex activates
(acting out stories in books)
16. Play for Schoolers…
• Table games
• Roller skates
• Musical instrument
• Bicycles
• Puzzles
• Dramatic play
• Athletic sports
17. Play in Older school age and Adolescents
Daydreaming - A more sophisticated type of
fantasy activity
Competitive sports, operating computers,
watching television, listening to the radio,
hobbies, reading etc.
19. Selection and Care of Play Materials
Depends upon -
Age, abilities, interest, like and dislike, cultural,
experience, personality and level of intelligence
of the child.
20. Selection of Play Materials
Safe, washable, light weight, simple, durable, easy
to handle and non-breakable
Realistic, attractive, constructive and offering
problem- solving opportunities.
21. Selection of Play Materials
No sharp edges/ small removable parts which may be
swallowed or inhaled.
Not over stimulating and frustrating
No toxic paints, not costly, not inflammable and not
excessively noisy.
Avoid toys with electrical plugs for children < 8 years of
age
22. Role of Parents…
Correct use of toys – Explain the directions for use
Safe storing of toys - Within easy reach
Keeping playthings in good condition
Parents should repair/ discard damaged/ broken toys
Keep play materials of older siblings away from
younger children
Parents should involve in their children’s play
.
23. Role of Nurses…
Educate and ensure safety factors
Involve in the play
Ensure therapeutic effectiveness
.