{"id":261529,"date":"2020-07-14T07:10:01","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T11:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=261529"},"modified":"2020-07-14T07:10:01","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T11:10:01","slug":"8-summer-activities-to-promote-kids-healthy-development-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/07\/14\/8-summer-activities-to-promote-kids-healthy-development-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"8 summer activities to promote kids’ healthy development during COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Play can have real and measurable benefits for both children and parents because play nurtures the stable relationships and connections that kids need to thrive. And, when children and parents experience joy and shared communication together in play \u2014 what researchers call \u201cattunement,\u201d based on harmonious back-and-forth or \u201cserve and return\u201d interactions \u2014 this serves to regulate the body\u2019s stress responses. (Pexels photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

With daycare and school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have taken on more responsibility for children\u2019s learning and development and for many this has been a major source of stress<\/a>. The pandemic and the challenges of learning from home have definitely taken a toll on parents and children<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Parents and children are also grappling with cancelled sports, camps, and activities this summer<\/a>, or reduced-capacity daycare centres<\/a>. Parents typically rely on these activity and care options to keep kids busy, and parents\u2019 time scheduled. This means unscheduled months ahead. Some parents undoubtedly will continue to struggle with finding ways to occupy their children.<\/p>\n

We suggest whenever possible parents embrace the summer months as a time to encourage or participate in play.<\/p>\n

Play can have real and measurable benefits for both children and parents<\/a> because play nurtures the stable relationships and connections that kids need to thrive. And, when children and parents experience joy and shared communication together in play \u2014 what researchers call \u201cattunement,\u201d based on harmonious back-and-forth or \u201cserve and return<\/a>\u201d interactions \u2014 this serves to regulate the body\u2019s stress responses.<\/p>\n

Playful activities can enhance children\u2019s learning and development, and can also help make up for lost academic time due to COVID-19.
\nPlayful activities involve choice, active engagement and moments of joy or delight.<\/p>\n

Play for foundational learning<\/h2>\n

Children\u2019s academic skills \u2014 counting, recognizing letters, learning words and reading \u2014 are important and foundational for their school success. Yet in the absence of formal schooling, research shows that many of these abilities can be enhanced with a playful approach.
\nFor example, children who use numbers in their play (for example, a board game with number sequences and counting) tend to show stronger mathematics knowledge and interest<\/a>. In addition, children who get to explore and interact with lots of everyday objects tend to learn more words<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Play with objects, and pretend play with objects, are both important learning opportunities for children and are related to their later language and reading development. Children actually understand stories better when they act them out with toys<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Puzzle play and play with construction-type toys (such as blocks or boxes) can support children\u2019s math and spatial reasoning skills<\/a>, or their abilities to recognize patterns and shapes. In sum, this more sensorimotor perspective on learning is important and something that parents could embrace in the COVID-19 context.<\/p>\n

Healthy child development<\/h2>\n

When children have choice in their play activities, they can learn how those choices make them feel. In the process, they may develop important skills like managing their frustration. Maintaining focus on an activity is also a skill and one that children develop with practice. Research shows that children are more likely to engage in a task that they choose themselves and that they perceive as play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pretend play, involving imaginary characters and themes, can be particularly important for children\u2019s developing social skills, attention and their abilities to be aware of others\u2019 thoughts and feelings<\/a>. This pandemic summer offers a chance for children to spend more time in these important imaginary or fantasy-themed play activities, both with parents and with siblings or by themselves.<\/p>\n

Benefits of nature<\/h2>\n

During warm summer months, taking play activities outside may be particularly beneficial, for both children and for parents. Outdoor spaces provide new objects to interact with and new forms of the natural world to marvel at such as animals, insects, trees and sky.<\/p>\n

The outdoors provides space for the physical play that is important to children\u2019s motor development and to adults\u2019 physical health. Beyond that, however, research suggests that time spent in nature restores our ability to think clearly<\/a>, improves mood and reduces anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Activities for learning through play<\/h2>\n

Outdoors:<\/strong><\/p>\n