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Supporting Your Child’s Mental, Emotional and Social Wellbeing Through Play
Raising happy, confident and resilient children is more challenging than ever. In today’s fast-paced and often stressful world, supporting your child’s wellbeing is key to helping them navigate challenges and thrive. But how can you, as a parent, support your child in these areas? The answer lies in something your child already loves – play.
Why this matters now more than ever
Children today face unique challenges, from the pressures of school to navigating relationships in a digital age. The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of children’s mental and emotional health, as many faced disruptions to their routines, isolation from their friends and increased worry. Research shows that children with strong mental, emotional and social health are better equipped to handle life’s difficulties. They are more resilient, adapt better to change and develop healthier relationships.
The following skills can be nurtured through a balanced play diet to support your children’s social, emotional and cognitive development and will build resilience:
Problem-Solving
The ability to consider possible solutions to a difficulty. Activities like jigsaw puzzles or building sets encourage children to experiment and think carefully.
Perseverance
Returning to an obstacle and trying again to overcome it. Games and toys with increasing difficulty or trial and error challenges, like constructing a tall tower.
Adaptation
Adjusting to different circumstances or requirements. Arts and crafts encourage flexibility and thinking outside the box.
Conflict Resolution
Finding peaceful ways to resolve disputes. Role playing games and cooperative board games help children learn to negotiate, share and collaborate.
Self-Regulation
Managing emotions and behaviours in healthy ways. Toys and activities that involve turn-taking or waiting, sharing and processing emotions, or mindful activities, all foster emotional control.
Self-Advocacy
Representing one’s own self, experience, and interests to others. Storytelling games or pretend play helps children express their feelings, needs and preferences.
Cognition
Abilities involved in learning, memory, reasoning and judgement. Trial and error and strategy-based activities strengthen thinking and decision-making skills.
Communication
Expressing and receiving information, and the ability to successfully interact with others. Group games and interactive toys that involve storytelling or conversations, help children articulate their thoughts and build social confidence.
How Parents Can Support their Children’s development
Here are a few practical tips for fostering your child’s wellbeing at home;
Encourage Open-Ended Play
Provide toys and games that allow your child to create, experiment and explore without fixed rules.
Play Together
Join your child in their favourite activities. This strengthens your bond and models positive social interactions.
Increase Challenge
Provide games and activities with progressing levels of difficulty to encourage your child to adapt to and understand new situations.
Talk About Feelings
Use storytelling in play to help your child articulate emotions and understand others’ perspectives.
Celebrate Effort
Encourage perseverance and problem-solving, even when the outcome isn’t perfect. Praise their determination to try.
Supporting your child’s mental, emotional and social health doesn’t have to feel overwhelming – it can be as simple as choosing the right toys and dedicating time for meaningful play. The Good Play Guide is here to help, making it easy to identify products that truly make a difference. Playtime isn’t just fun – it’s the foundation for a healthier, happier future for our children.