“As we await new discoveries from brain science, one finding is already clear: Play is a wonderful metaphor for active, engaged, meaningful, and socially interactive learning.” — National Association for the Education of Young Children. The importance of play for healthy brain development in babies, toddlers, children, and teenagers is backed by abundant research and expert consensus. For example, a long-term study found that more intricate play with LEGOs in preschool children had a strong correlation with higher mathematics success in high school, even when accounting for the subject’s IQ. Another study found that very young children who enjoyed regular play with blocks developed stronger language skills. In fact, play is deemed so fundamental for healthy child development that it is considered a basic human right for every child by the United Nations. This infographic provides reputable quotes, science-based facts, and studies on how play supports cognitive growth and learning.
Infographic by: playgroundequipment
