Child Development

This article discusses the importance of play activities in child development and how playing favorite games contributes to physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development. The author shares personal experiences and insights on the topic.

Running head: CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Child Development
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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1. Description of experience of participating in the play activities in class. How did you
feel while participating in the activities? Which activity was your favorite? Why?
Considering the fact that we do not have access to advanced and high tech toys in our
school, during our play time we use to play both indoor as well as outdoor play activities.
When it comes to outdoor play activities we chiefly play 2 games. Firstly, we play skipping
rope that involves a big stand less tent holding by two students. The second game played by
us names Mr. Fox, in this game, one student is named Mr. X. Whenever, any one student call
out his name, the student named Mr. Fox to tell him the time and tries to catch him. Some of
the indoor games played by us include plank blocks, finger painting with paints, Scale, Apple
picking, play dough and count materials and others. Each of the mentioned game is highly
enjoyable and I feel energized and happy while playing each of the games. The mentioned
games helped me in developing my motor as well as cognitive skills. The activity which is
my most favorite is Mr. Fox.
2. What was your favorite game or activity to play when you were a child between the
age of 3 to 11? Pick one. Describe it, including information about how old you were,
how you played it, where you played it? With whom did you play it and kind of toys
and materials used?
My favourite activity when I was a child was Soccer. The mentioned game is played between
two teams of 11 players and involves a spherical ball. Two goalposts are placed in the
playground, located at two extreme corners of the playground. 1 point is scored by each team if
they are able to kick the ball into their opponent’s goal post. I started playing soccer at the age of
5 and continued to play until the age of 18 years. We used to play the mentioned activity in a

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playground which was near our house. I used to play soccer with my two brothers, my friends
from the locality as well as my schoolmates. The chief material of the game, as mentioned earlier
was a football.
3. Describe how playing your favourite game contributed to your physical growth and
development.
Soccer is considered to be one of the most popular activities that enhance a child’s physical
growth and development to a great extent (Dunlosky et al. 2013). Some of the physical
developments experienced by me while playing soccer include the following:
1. The mentioned activity helped me with the growth and development of my central
nervous system. My agility, balance as well as coordination got developed while playing
soccer (Santrock, 2004).
2. Considering the fact that soccer involved a lot of running activities, I experienced a
strengthening of my leg muscles.
3. It also resulted in enhancement of my fitness. When I used to play soccer I was
hyperactive and this, in turn, has helped me in developing a strong heart.
4. Describe how playing your favourite game contributed to your cognitive growth and
development?
Soccer, along with imposing immense beneficial effects on my physical development has
imposed a beneficial effect on my cognitive developments too. Two of my key cognitive
issues were lack of memory and self-esteem. However, playing children of the same age of
mine and winning the game for a several numbers of times helped in enhancing confidence in
me. Moreover, I noticed that playing the game regularly for a certain amount of time also

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resulted in the development of my memory and concentration in study. Not only had that,
playing football also enhanced my team building skills. While playing as a team, I
understood that in order to win the game I have played as a team rather than playing only for
myself.
5. Describe how playing with your favorite game contributed to your social growth
and development?
While playing the mentioned activity, I also evidenced social growth and development along
with physical and cognitive developments. Some of the major benefits evidenced by me while
playing soccer are as follows:
1. The mentioned activity helped in enhancing my focus as well as attention (Santrock,
2004). I used to focused the goalpost of the opponent team and implemented various
tactics to reach my goal. While doing this, my attention got boosted.
2. Considering the fact that soccer is a team sport, I required communicating with my team
members. This, in turn, enhanced my social interactions.
6. Describe how the playing your favourite game contributed to your emotional
growth and development?
Soccer had positively affected the physiology of my brain which, in turn, has resulted in
better storage, information processing, talent enhancing and retrieval (Santrock, 2004). While
playing soccer I understood that is activity also enhanced my mood to a great level. Playing
soccer also kept me motivated (Santrock, 2004). An example can be given to prove that. During

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the period when I was not able to play soccer due to a major injury in my pelvic bone, I used to
remain depressed and demotivated. Soccer also improved my problem-solving ability. Another
crucial emotional benefit I experience while playing soccer was an enhancement of emotional
control. As a child, I was inadequate emotional control (Santrock, 2004). However, soccer
enhanced my emotional control ability to a great level.
Conclusion
This assignment helped me to learn the importance play activities have in our daily life. I
understood that play activities impose a highly positive impact on our physical, cognitive, social
and emotional development. The play is highly crucial for optimal child development. Play
activities help a child to develop their unique potential. It creates optimal circumstances for the
child which allows each child to fully take the advantages associated with the play. Play activates
helps a child to develop the above-mentioned skills that not only shape the personality of the
child but acts as vital factors that affect each stage of their adulating process.
Before performing the assignment, I had the perspective that plays activities are not
mandatory for a child and were nothing but fun activities. However, after completing the
assignment, I understood the cruciality of play activities in the early life of an individual. This
assignment will be highly beneficial for my future professional as well as personal life.
Considering the fact that I aspire to be an early childhood teacher, I will be able to guide my
students and understand which activity will be beneficial for a particular child with the helped of
the knowledge gained by me through this activity. This knowledge will also help me to enhance
my parenting skill.

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Reference List
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013).
Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from
cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-
58.
Santrock, J. K. (2004). Educational Psychology. Google Books. Retrieved 27 April 2018,
from https://books.google.co.in/books?
id=BTvu_Zn9sBQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=educational+psychology+by+santrock&hl=e
n&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWkofBttraAhWKp48KHdwBA9QQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=
educational%20psychology%20by%20santrock&f=false