Childhood Play Behavior and Cognitive Development Essay -- Child Deve

Childhood play behavior is an important part of every child’s life. Starting in infancy, children begin to explore their world through play. This behavior can serve as an indicator of the child’s cognitive and social development. The research on play and development is a key to helping caregivers understand the importance of childhood play. This paper will focus on the psychological aspects of childhood play behavior and its relation to cognitive development. According to the cognitive development theory, the purpose of play is to develop intelligence. While children play, it is theorized that they are able to learn to solve problems (Wyver & Spence, 1999). One of the most influential contributors to understanding play was Jean Piaget. According to his theory, all people must adapt to the environment through assimilation and accommodation. Childhood play is a form of assimilation and any behavior that is done for enjoyment can be defined as play (Piaget, 1962). Piaget also developed the stages of cognition these include: sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational thinking. These stages of development provide a framework for conceptualizing childhood behavior and are made evident through play (Tsao, 2002). As children grow and mature, they transition through Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and their type of play changes. Up until a child’s second birthday, they are in the sensorimotor period of cognitive development. This phase of development is classified as a period of observation. These children engage in sensorimotor play, also known as practice play, which consists repetitively doing a physical activity. According to Piaget, this is the first stage of ... ...iversity Press. Hyun, E. (1998). Making sense of developmentally and culturally appropriate practice (DCAP) in early childhood education. New York: Peter Lang. Chapter 2. Kaufman, A. Barbara (1994). Day by day: Playing and learning. International Journal of Play Therapy, 3 (1), pp.11-21. Phelps, P., & Hanline, M. (1999). Let's play blocks: Creating effective learning experiences for young children. Teaching Exceptional Children, 32(2), 62-7. Piaget, J. (1962). Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. New York: Norton. Tsao, L. (2002). How much do we know about the importance of play in child development?. Childhood Education, 78(4), 230-3. Retrieved from OmniFile Full Text Mega database Wyver, S., & Spence, S. (1999). Play and divergent problem solving: Evidence supporting a reciprocal relationship. Early Education and Development, 10(4), 419-444.