Skip to content

Play

A child will use play to help them make sense of the world around them, and also to work through various emotions and experiences.

Why is play important?

Play is vital to a child’s development. A child will use play to help them make sense of the world around them, and also to work through various emotions and experiences. It also helps them to learn how relationships between people work.

The best way to support a child’s development through play is to allow them to lead the way. A child should also be encouraged to explore the world, whilst being within the safety of an adult’s gaze. The person caring for them should be sensitive to their signals and respond to their needs during their play time. This will help the child to develop a secure attachment to them, which is also important for their development.

Play comes in all shapes and sizes – imaginary, rule-bound, verbal or non-verbal, pretend, on your own or social, rough and tumble or quieter play – and all of these are beneficial for a child’s development.

What’s important is how they are allowed to play. If you allow a child to make their own decisions and follow their interests, while being actively engaged with them at the same time, you can boost their confidence and self-esteem and expand her imagination and creativity.

  • Aggression

    A child needs an adult to help them to find ways to understand and express their difficult feelings. If a child feels anger very strongly, but hasn’t yet learnt what it is, it is likely ...

  • Anxiety

    All babies and children from time to time will experience some fear or anxiety. They might do so when they come up against challenging tasks, unfamiliar people (known as stranger anxiety...

  • Bereavement

    Because babies and young children are very aware of their environment and the emotions of those around them, it’s likely that they will notice if someone is no longer there - or if the a...

  • Crying

    Babies and young children often cry as a way to communicate their needs and feelings. This is normal and healthy. Find out more on how to deal with crying.

  • Infant feeding

    All babies are different. Advice for childcare workers who support parents and carers with complicated emotions and issues around feeding.

  • Play

    A child will use play to help them make sense of the world around them, and also to work through various emotions and experiences.

  • Relationship with the key person in a childcare setting

    Advice on key workers or childminders on supporting babies, infants and young children with ensuring nursery and school remains an exciting and enriching experience.

  • Separation anxiety

    From around 6 months, babies become anxious and get clingy and cry when their parent or carer leaves them. This is a normal part of development, which young children usually grow out of ...

  • Sharing

    Sharing is a really important ‘skill’ for children to acquire. It helps them connect with others and it is an important part of being able to form good social relationships based on coop...

  • Sibling rivalry

    Early years staff can play a crucial role in helping the older child have a sense of being their ‘own little person’ who is still loved and important. Find out more.

  • Sleep

    As individuals, we all have our own sleep patterns and body rhythms, but when it comes to our ability to fall asleep easily and to stay asleep, our relationships can play a key role.

  • Tantrums

    Tantrums happen when a child is feeling overwhelmed by an intense emotion that they aren’t able to process. Letting it all out by having a tantrum is the way they feel able to express ho...

  • Toileting

    In their second year, as toddlers’ bodies develop, they show signs of being ready to be toilet trained. Toddlers learn to recognise more subtle sensations in their anal and urethral area...

  • Trauma

    Trauma is an emotional response to an event that is deeply frightening or distressing and can affect babies, infants and young children in ways they might not be able to communicate. Fin...

  • Withdrawn behaviour

    Right from birth, babies have an inbuilt instinct to interact with their caregivers. But too much interaction or excitement can be uncomfortable for babies, and they need downtime as wel...

Other early years resources

We have a selection of resources for early years wellbeing including working with babies & young children on digital platforms.