If you are looking for child care in South Riding, you should look for a center that has developmentally appropriate activities for your child including an adequate amount of playtime. Often parents are so concerned with finding a child care center with a strong educational program that they forget about the fact that children are actually wired to learn through their playtime. Parents underestimate the value of play to the detriment of their child.
The child care center that you select in South Riding should be able to incorporate learning activities into your child’s play with ease. When you visit a child care center see if they have play areas where your child can learn and play at the same time. For example, a child can develop cognitive skills involving math and problem solving by pretending to shop in a store or children can develop social skills by pretending to cook a meal together in a pretend kitchen.
In addition to helping your child develop intellectually play contributes to overall physical and mental health. Studies have shown that play is essential to proper emotional development. Children who engage in free, unstructured play on a regular basis are generally happier and better adjusted because they have an outlet for anxiety and stress. A child who does not have the opportunity to play does not learn coping mechanisms for dealing with overwhelming situations. And given the obesity statistics among children, it is clear that every child can benefit from the physical demands of play.
If you visit a child care center and all of the focus seems to be on the interaction that occurs in the individual classrooms without much emphasis being placed on play, you might ask if there is time for unstructured play during the day. Because unstructured play will force your child to imagine scenarios, create rules, and interact with other children, it is one of the most valuable educational tools at the disposal of any child care facility. If the center you are visiting does not appear to take advantage of that resource, you might consider looking at other child care options in the South Riding area.
As a parent, you have a wealth of child care options available to you in the South Riding area. However, not all of them will value and encourage play as one of the primary tasks in which your child can be engaged. If you recall your own childhood, you may remember how natural it was to play and create games on your own and with your playmates. Make sure that your child has that same opportunity and you will be amazed to see all that they are capable of while seemingly just playing around.
Parents seeking child care in South Riding should contact Sparkles! Sparkles! provides infant, preschool, and before/after school child care for children from six weeks through twelve years of age. We are dedicated to providing children in South Riding with a safe, loving environment that addresses all of their developmental needs – including the need for play. At Sparkles! we understand that it’s all about trust and you can rest assured that we will give your child the loving care and resources to develop a healthy mind and body. Visit us online today at www.sparkleschildcare.com or call us at 1.877.SPARKY6.
