Embracing Play!

"Play is essential for young children. It is a child’s basic right and a way for them to communicate and learn. Play is organic and comes naturally to all children. Their brains are hardwired to play and make connections to the world around them," according to a blog post authored by Dr. Shelina Bhamani, who holds a PhD in Education and leads Early Childhood Development at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aga Khan University (AKU), and Laiba Zaman, a volunteer at the department in AKU. "It helps them learn and grow in many ways. Recent advances in neuroscience highlight a wide range of advantages of play for young children and their early brain development, emphasising its long-term impact on academic performance and future life trajectory and development. Parents and caregivers need to not only acknowledge the fundamental importance of play in a child’s life but also provide ample opportunities and resources to facilitate play in young children’s routines,” they conclude.