Play is part of everyone's life! Do you remember, as a child, loving to go out and play with your friends or waiting for recess to kick a ball around, jump rope, or sing songs while trying not to mess up a clapping game? What did you play? Who did you play with? How did it make you feel? Sometimes it even felt like time stood still, and you could spend hours playing the same game. Playing means exploring, discovering, understanding, and having fun, in most cases. When your children play, they learn about the world they live in, and they learn from others and from life in general. Through play, they can try out different ways of being, and different ways of following rules and breaking them. Play is essential to human development. There are as many games as there are people in the world, because all it takes is a little imagination and creativity to invent a new game in seconds. As a parent, you have the gift of being your child's first playmate. Through play, you build a bond of trust that helps them feel safe and supports secure attachment. But what kinds of games can help support their development? Play should evolve as your children grow, starting with simple games and moving toward games with more specific rules. Some types of games you can share with your children include: Playing with objects like balls, building towers with large blocks, and knocking them down. Singing games with clear hand and leg gestures and movements. Pretending to be different characters, which builds the ability to symbolize and create experiences. Sorting objects by shape and color. Throwing balls, jumping, climbing, or sliding down slides. Crawling is a type of play that helps children get to know and expand their perspective of their surroundings. Making up stories with simple but fun descriptions. Finding hidden objects or following clues to locate them at home or while traveling somewhere. The important thing about play is having varied activities that involve different skills. At the same time, be careful, because too many toys can weaken creativity, motivation, and the ability to enjoy play. How do I know I'm truly enjoying play? According to Imma Marín, author of the book ¿Jugamos?, how much you enjoy play depends on your attitude, and a good playful attitude comes from: Bringing all your senses into what you're doing. Letting yourself be surprised by what happens. Setting aside control and choosing to enjoy whatever comes. Getting involved in play with passion. Turning difficulty into a challenge. Taking initiative and contributing to the game. Put these points into practice when playing with your children and help them enjoy the game—make it a moment of joy, celebrate their achievements, validate their mistakes without judgment, and guide them to build tolerance for frustration. Through play, your children discover how far they're capable of going or what they're capable of doing. It's a great opportunity to build self-confidence and support learning. That's why our students, from an early age, explore, learn, solve problems, and experiment through play. Our teachers know that play is serious business, and they use it as an educational tool to prepare students for life beyond school. DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE: https://dev.elyxirdigital.com/cbnh/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CBNH-%C2%A1El-juego-es-parte-de-la-vida-de-todos.pdf
