by Gabby Bugwadia

Created on: March 07, 2010   Last Updated: October 24, 2010

Play is to a toddler what work is to an adult; the only difference being that toddlers enjoy it! Toddlers are naturally inclined to play and eager to incorporate it into their lives with gay abandon. At this stage of development, toddlers are naturally drawn to play-with heightened curiosity and an innate sense of purpose.

The primary importance of play is that it encourages toddlers to concentrate, use their imagination and learn many new skills. It is most important to the child's learning process. To a toddler, play is not only a fun activity, but an exciting and invigorating adventure into the realms of effective learning.

Through play, toddlers absorb new ideas from the environment by taking in whatever appears interesting. Children learn best when they engage in activities what they really like. This type of play, called free play needs ongoing encouragement from parents and caregivers - - -after which they could be introduced to structured play in nursery and pre-schools.

Let us examine some of the vital aspects of why play is so important to a toddler:

* Develops Intelligence

Play is a highly effective medium through which children learn to exercise their minds and develop their intelligence making full use of their mental faculties. Their mental faculties are thus promoted as they begin to concentrate and seek out bits and pieces of information while exploring the environment.

* Develops imagination

Play offers toddlers a wider scope for imagination as they eagerly experiment with dozens of objects that are found in every home using like plastic boxes, jars, bottles, old pots and pans and lids. A sense of inventiveness is created as toddlers enjoy turning these objects for their playful use. They also enjoy creating meaningful figures by manipulating clay, sand and finger-paint-all of which develops their imagination and intelligence.

* Develops motor skills

Play activities develop gross and fine motor skills in toddlers. As they begin to use their large muscles by running, jumping, hopping, climbing, skipping, throwing and catching ball, their basic motor skills are developed. In the process, they also learn what they can do with their bodies as they twist, tumble, skip, shake, roll and dance. Toddlers also develop fine motor skills while playing with beads, shells, building blocks, cubes and construction sets.

* Develops social interaction

Around this period, toddlers begin to take interest and seek companionship

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