The Importance of Play in Cognitive Development

The late Dr. Karyn Purvis once said, “Play disarms fear, builds connectedness, and teaches skills and competencies for life.” Play itself is a key strategy in TBRI^® (or Trust-Based Relational Intervention^®) and fundamental in building healthy relationships with our children and teens. In fact, play is also essential in cognitive development by stimulating brain growth; strengthening memory, focus, and self-regulation; and enhancing problem-solving skills. For children and teens impacted by adoption and/or foster care, both structured and unstructured play can bring healing and growth while also repairing trust and felt safety lost because of trauma, abuse, and neglect. 

According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the following are different types of play for cognitive development based on age. 

• Babies at 6 Months: Games like “peekaboo!” and “pat-a-cake” help babies practice skills like self-control and motor skills. Hiding games—putting an item under a cloth or box and asking them to find it—are also healthy ways to play. Remember to follow your baby’s lead. Play games he or she shows an interest in, and allow them to determine how to play. 
• Babies at 9 Months: Imitation is integral in play. As a parent or caregiver, make a simple gesture to your baby, and let him or her copy your action. You might also try hiding an item that makes noise and asking your child to look for it. Both imitation and hiding teach babies to focus their attention, use their memory, and practice self-control. 
• Toddlers at 12 Months: Toddlers have a natural tendency to place items in a container and dump out those items. To develop basic motor skills, have your toddler fill different types of containers with safe items, like toys and socks. 
• Toddlers at 18 Months: At this stage, children begin to understand how to match and sort objects by color or shape. You could create a matching game with color paper or even groups of toys. Similarly, songs like “The Wheels on the Bus” help toddlers learn to copy motions and remember sequences. 
• Toddlers at 2 to 3 Years: As discussed before, active songs with movements strengthen memory skills and also provide physical activity. These songs require children to start and stop or slow down and speed up, building self-control. Also, with imitation games like “follow the leader,” let your child take the lead and are also great tests on memory, attention, and self-control. 
• Children 4 to 7 Years: There’s a reason games like “Simon says” and “I spy” have stood the test of time. They are simple to follow and help develop executive function, self-regulation, and physical skills at their own pace. At this stage, children should also begin managing their own games with friends, with adults only there to help with conflict resolution and safety.
• Children 8 to 12 Years: As children get older, play will naturally become more complex and challenging. Crossword puzzles and word finds are great brain teasers, and board games like Guess Who, Battleship, and Clue will strengthen memory skills and help develop mental flexibility. And finally, games that stretch creativity and imagination, like Pictionary or charades, are great at this stage.
• Teens at 13 to 17 Years: At this stage, play can help in developing executive functioning and self-regulation skills, like being adaptable, flexible, and controlling impulsive behavior. Suggested activities include playing an instrument, singing or dancing, or joining a sports team or theater group. These have proven to strengthen development as well as a sense of belonging.   

According to many in the academic and research fields, including our friends at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, play offers children many important benefits. Through play, they develop and strengthen social, emotional, and cognitive skills. When children play, they have the ability to make their own choices and direct their actions, and they experience a sense of social and emotional safety. Play allows them to express themselves freely, explore ideas and behaviors, and experiment without fear or anxiety. Play is an essential in helping our kiddos impacted by adoption and foster care heal from past trauma and loss and begin to thrive both inside and outside our homes. 

To learn more about trauma-informed care, visit our online learning platform, Hope for the Journey, today.