Play is the main activity for children. Not just for fun, playing can build creativity, imagination, and other excellent skills to support child growth. However, not all types of games are the same. Let’s find out the different types of play for children that are important to grow and develop according to the expert below.
Types of play for children that are important for development.
Mildred Parten in Johnson & Medinnus (1974) suggested that there were 6 types of play for children after he had been observing children who were 2 to 5 years old. This Parten research is reviewed children’s games that are seen from the side of social behaviour (Parten’s stage of Play), as follows:
- “Free” game (Unoccupied play).
- Play alone (Independent play / Solitary Game).
- Observing game (Onlooker play).
- Parallel play.
- Associative Games.
- Group games (Cooperative play).
Unoccupied Play.
The child notices and sees everything that attracts his attention, then performs free movements in the form of uncontrolled behavior.
Solitary game.
Children in a group, are allowed to play alone with a variety of game tools, so there is no contact between each other and no matter what happens.
Onlooker Play.
The child sees and pays attention to the other children playing. The child is talking to the other children and asking questions, but he is not involved in the game activities.
Types of play Based on Age.
0-3 months.
The tools provided are to stimulate sensory stimulation, for example: bells, images of striking colors, objects that have an assortment of textures and sounds, hanging toys, music boxes, etc.
3-6 months.
At this age, babies start grasping. Therefore, the game provided is a type of game for grasping, squeezing, perceived, and for biting (soft toys, teething toys)
12-15 months.
Colorful picture books, composing blocks, playing with glass, water, toy phones. Throw balls, toys that can be pushed and drawn, simple puzzles. Play sand and water, doll, miniature animal
2 years.
Swing, Tricycle (just sit and driven), a toy that can be pulled and pushed, play paint by hand (finger-paint), play with water, beams, books, dolls.
3 years old.
Start developing the Imagination game: Doll House, play war.
4 years old.
Play by bike (start pedaling themselves), coloring, painting, Stringing.
5 years old.
Cut and paste, start liking games that have simple rules, such as snakes and ladders, smart board. (Reference: Hughes, 1999: Children, Play and Developmental).
Read also: Benefits of Kids Playing Soccer
Types of play based on the stages of cognitive development.
According to Seifert & Hoffnung (1994), dividing the game of children into 4 types, which are divided based on the stages of cognitive development, namely as follows:
Functional play.
Functional play is games during the sensorimotor period in the form of a game that is physically and repetitive.
Constructive play.
Constructive play is a form of game that uses objects to build or create something.
Dramatic play.
A dramatic play is a form of pretend play.
Game with rules (formal play).
Games with rules are a form of a game performed by the child by having certain rules that the child must adhere to.
Types of education and good games for kids
Socialization game.
Interacting with others is crucial for development, especially in its first year. Babies love to see, smile, and laugh. Bigger babies Love Peekaboo games and games using simple songs.
The play uses objects.
Touching, slamming, inserting into the mouth, throwing, pushing, and many other things will be an awesome experiment for babies aged 4 to 10 months.
Representation and function play.
Pretending to use tools in a way, e.g. Using a comb to comb his hair, or brushing teeth with a toothbrush, is an imagination game for children aged 12 to 21 months, because at this age their imagination began Developing.
Symbolic Play.
The game is usually done by children in the age range of 2 years, suppose that the shoe box is a school bus and mimics the sound of the motor.
Role play.
Usually done by children aged 30 to 36 months. At this age, they will be great child actors and actresses. They pretend to be doctors, teachers, mothers, or others, and it’s smart to absorb what’s happening in their surroundings.
Outdoor Games.
Currently, having a children’s playground at home is indispensable. Not only as a recreational facility, the playground is also useful to hone the potential and sensitive power of the children to the surrounding environment.
