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This article provides information on what Early Intervention is about and the evaluation process.

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Esta información en español | This information in Spanish
Current as of July 2021

If you're concerned about the development of an infant or toddler, or you suspect that a little one has a disability, this page will summarize one terrific source of help-the early intervention system in your state. Early intervention services can help infants and toddlers with disabilities or delays to learn many key skills and catch up in their development. There's a lot to know about early intervention. We present the "basics" here to get you started.

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What is early intervention?

Early intervention is a system of services that helps babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Early intervention focuses on helping eligible babies and toddlers learn the basic and brand-new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life, such as:

physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking);

cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems);

communication (talking, listening, understanding);

social/emotional (playing, feeling secure and happy); and

self-help (eating, dressing).

Examples of early intervention services | If an infant or toddler has a disability or a developmental delay in one or more of these developmental areas, that child will likely be eligible for early intervention services. Those services will be tailored to meet the child's individual needs and may include:

Assistive technology (devices a child might need)

Audiology or hearing services

Speech and language services

Counseling and training for a family

Medical services

Nursing services

Nutrition services

Occupational therapy

Physical therapy

Psychological services

Services may also be provided to address the needs and priorities of the child's family. Family-directed services are meant to help family members understand the special needs of their child and how to enhance his or her development.

Authorized by law | Early intervention is available in every state and territory of the United States. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires it-Part C of IDEA, to be precise. That's why you'll sometimes hear early intervention referred to as Part C.

Who's eligible for early intervention?

Early intervention is intended for infants and toddlers who have a developmental delay or disability. Eligibility is determined by evaluating the child (with parents' consent) to see if the little one does, in fact, have a delay in development or a disability. Eligible children can receive early intervention services from birth through the third birthday (and sometimes beyond).

For some children, from birth | Sometimes it is known from the moment a child is born that early intervention services will be essential in helping the child grow and develop. Often this is so for children who are diagnosed at birth with a specific condition or who experience significant prematurity, very low birth weight, illness, or surgery soon after being born. Even before heading home from the hospital, this child's parents may be given a to their local early intervention office.

For others, because of delays in development | Some children have a relatively routine entry into the world, but may develop more slowly than others, experience set backs, or develop in ways that seem very different from other children. For these children, a visit with a developmental pediatrician and a thorough evaluation may lead to an early intervention referral.

Parents don't have to wait for a referral to early intervention, however. If you're concerned about your child's development, you may contact your local program directly and ask to have your child evaluated. That evaluation is provided free of charge. If you're not sure how to locate the early intervention program in your community-keep reading. We give that information a bit further down the page.

However a child comes to be referred, evaluated, and determined eligible, early intervention services provide vital support so that children with developmental needs can thrive and grow.

What's a developmental delay?

The term "developmental delay" is an important one in early intervention. Broadly speaking, it means that a child is delayed in some area of development. There are five areas in which development may be affected:

Cognitive development

Physical development, including vision and hearing

Communication development

Social or emotional development

Adaptive development

Developmental milestones | Think of all the baby skills that can fall under any one of those developmental areas! Babies and toddlers have a lot of new skills to learn, so it's always of concern when a child's development seems slow or more difficult than would normally be expected. Our developmental milestones page outlines some of the typical skills that babies and toddlers learn by certain ages. It's a good resource to consult if you're concerned that a child may have a developmental delay.

Definition of "developmental delay" | Part C of IDEA defines the term "developmental delay." But the meaning of the term varies from state to state, because each state defines the term for itself, including:

describing the evaluation and assessment procedures that will be used to measure a child's development in each of the five developmental areas; and

specifying the level of delay in functioning (or other comparable criteria) that constitutes a developmental delay in each of the five developmental areas.

What's your state's definition? | To find out how your state defines the term "developmental delay," you can ask your child's pediatrician or the local health department. Most likely, the definition is also online, so you can also "search" for it, making sure to include the name of your state in the search.

Read more about developmental delay | We also offer a fact sheet on developmental delay that you may find helpful in understanding the developing child, what to do if you're concerned about your own child's development, and where to turn for more information.

If you're concerned about a baby or toddler's development

It's not uncommon for parents and family members to become concerned when their beautiful baby or growing toddler doesn't seem to be developing according to the normal schedule of "baby" milestones.

"He hasn't rolled over yet."

"The little girl next door is already sitting up on her own!"

"She should be saying a few words by now."

Sound familiar? While it's true that children develop differently, at their own pace, and that the range of what's "normal" development is quite broad, it's hard not to worry and wonder.

What to do | If you think that your child is not developing at the same pace or in the same way as most children his or her age, it is often a good idea to talk first to your child's pediatrician. Explain your concerns. Tell the doctor what you have observed with your child. Your child may have a disability or a developmental delay, or he or she may be at risk of having a disability or delay.

You can also get in touch with your community's early intervention program, and ask to have your little one evaluated to see if he or she has a developmental delay or disability. This evaluation is free of charge, won't hurt your child, and looks at his or her basic skills. Based on that evaluation, your child may be eligible for early intervention services, which will be designed to address your child's special needs or delays.

How to get in touch with your community's early intervention program | There are several ways to connect with the EI program in your community. Try any of these suggestions:

Contact the Pediatrics branch in a local hospital and ask where you should call to find out about early intervention services in your area.

Ask your pediatrician for a referral to the local early intervention system.

Visit the ECTA Center's early intervention "contacts" page, at:
http://ectacenter.org/contact/ptccoord.asp

What to say to the early intervention contact person | Explain that you are concerned about your child's development. Say that you think your child may need early intervention services. Explain that you would like to have your child evaluated under Part C of IDEA.

Referral | Write down any information the contact person gives you. You will probably be referred to either your community's early intervention program or to what is known as Child Find. Child Find operates in every state to identify babies and toddlers who need early intervention services because of developmental delays or disability. You can use the Parent's Record-Keeping Worksheet to keep track of this important information. In fact, in general, it's a good idea to write down the names and phone numbers of everyone you talk to as you move through the early intervention process.

The evaluation and assessment process

Service coordinator | Once connected with either Child Find or your community's early intervention program, you'll be assigned a service coordinator who will explain the early intervention process and help you through the next steps in that process. The service coordinator will serve as your single point of contact with the early intervention system.

Screening and/or evaluation| One of the first things that will happen is that your child will be evaluated to see if, indeed, he or she has a developmental delay or disability. (In some states, there may be a preliminary step called to see if there's cause to suspect that a baby or toddler has a disability or developmental delay.) The family's service coordinator will explain what's involved in the screening and/or evaluation and ask for your permission to proceed. You must provide your written consent before screening and/or evaluation may take place.

The evaluation group will be made up of qualified people who have different areas of training and experience. Together, they know about children's speech and language skills, physical abilities, hearing and vision, and other important areas of development. They know how to work with children, even very young ones, to discover if a child has a problem or is developing within normal ranges. Group members may evaluate your child together or individually. As part of the evaluation, the team will observe your child, ask your child to do things, talk to you and your child, and use other methods to gather information. These procedures will help the team find out how your child functions in the five areas of development.

Exceptions for diagnosed physical or mental conditions | It's important to note that an evaluation of your child won't be necessary if he or she is automatically eligible due to a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay. Such conditions include but aren't limited to chromosomal abnormalities; genetic or congenital disorders; sensory impairments; inborn errors of metabolism; disorders reflecting disturbance of the development of the nervous system; congenital infections; severe attachment disorders; and disorders secondary to exposure to toxic substances, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Many states have policies that further specify what conditions automatically qualify an infant or toddler for early intervention (e.g., Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome).

Determining eligibility | The results of the evaluation will be used to determine your child's eligibility for early intervention services. You and a team of professionals will meet and review all of the data, results, and reports. The people on the team will talk with you about whether your child meets the criteria under IDEA and state policy for having a developmental delay, a diagnosed physical or mental condition, or being at risk for having a substantial delay. If so, your child is generally found to be eligible for services.

Initial assessment of the child | With parental consent, indepth assessment must now be conducted to determine your child's unique needs and the early intervention services appropriate to address those needs. Initial assessment will include reviewing the results of the evaluation, personal observation of your child, and identifying his or her needs in each developmental area.

Initial assessment of the family | With approval of the family members involved, assessments of family members are also conducted to identify the resources, concerns, and priorities of the family related to enhancing the development of your child. The family-directed assessment is voluntary on the part of each family member participating in the assessment and is based on information gathered through an assessment tool and also through an interview with those family members who elect to participate.

Who pays for all this? | Under IDEA, evaluations and assessments are provided at no cost to parents. They are funded by state and federal monies.

Writing the IFSP

Having collected a great deal of information about your child and family, it's now possible for the team (including you as parents) to sit down and write anindividualized plan of action for your child and family. This plan is called the Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP. It is a very important document, and you, as parents, are important members of the team that develops it. Each state has specific guidelines for the IFSP. Your service coordinator can explain what the IFSP guidelines are in your state.

Guiding principles | The IFSP is a written document that, among other things, outlines the early intervention services that your child and family will receive. One guiding principal of the IFSP is that the family is a child's greatest resource, that a young child's needs are closely tied to the needs of his or her family. The best way to support children and meet their needs is to support and build upon the individual strengths of their family. So, the IFSP is a whole family plan with the parents as major contributors in its development. Involvement of other team members will depend on what the child needs. These other team members could come from several agencies and may include medical people, therapists, child development specialists, social workers, and others.

What info is included in an IFSP? | Your child's IFSP must include the following:

Your child's present physical, cognitive, communication, social/emotional, and adaptive development levels and needs

Family information (with your agreement), including the resources, priorities, and concerns of you, as parents, and other family members closely involved with the child

The major results or outcomes expected to be achieved for your child and family

The specific services your child will be receiving

Where in the natural environment (e.g., home, community) the services will be provided (if the services will not be provided in the natural environment, the IFSP must include a statement justifying why not)

When and where your son or daughter will receive services

The number of days or sessions he or she will receive each service and how long each session will last

Who will pay for the services

The name of the service coordinator overseeing the implementation of the IFSP

The steps to be taken to support your child's transition out of early intervention and into another program when the time comes.

The IFSP may also identify services your family may be interested in, such as financial information or information about raising a child with a disability.

Informed parental consent | The IFSP must be fully explained to you, the parents, and your suggestions must be considered. You must give written consent for each service to be provided. If you do not give your consent in writing, your child will not receive that service.

Reviewing and updating the IFSP | The IFSP is reviewed every six months and is updated at least once a year. This takes into account that children can learn, grow, and change quickly in just a short period of time.

Timeframes for all this

When the early intervention system receives a referral about a child with a suspected disability or developmental delay, a time clock starts running. Within 45 days, the early intervention system must complete the critical steps discussed thus far:

screening (if used in the state),

initial evaluation of the child,

initial assessments of the child and family, and

writing the IFSP (if the child has been found eligible).

That's a tall order, but important, given how quickly children grow and change. When a baby or toddler has developmental issues, they need to be addressed as soon as possible. So-45 days, that's the timeframe from referral to completion of the IFSP for an eligible child.

Who pays for the services?

Whether or not you, as parents, will have to pay for any services for your child depends on the policies of your state. Check with your service coordinator. Your state's system of payments must be available in writing and given to you, so there are no surprises or unexpected bills later.

What's free to families | Under Part C of IDEA, the following services must be provided at no cost to families:

Child Find services;

evaluations and assessments;

the development and review of the IFSP; and

service coordination.

When services are not free | Depending on your state's policies, you may have to pay for certain other services. You may be charged a "sliding-scale" fee, meaning the fees are based on what you earn. Some services may be covered by your health insurance, by Medicaid, or by Indian Health Services. The Part C system may ask for your permission to access your public or private insurance in order to pay for the early intervention services your child receives. In most cases, the early intervention system may not use your health care insurance (private or public) without your express, written consent. If you do not give such consent, the system may not limit or deny you or your child services.

Every effort is made to provide services to all infants and toddlers who need help, regardless of family income. Services cannot be denied to a child just because his or her family is not able to pay for them.

**Highly Rated Resource! This resource was reviewed by 3-member panels of Parent Center staff working independently from one another to rate the quality, relevance, and usefulness of CPIR resources. This resource was found to be of "High Quality, High Relevance, High Usefulness" to Parent Centers.
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Would you like to visit another page in the Early Intervention Suite of pages?

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Esta información en español | This information in Spanish Current as of July 2021 If you're concerned about the development of an infant or toddler, or you suspect that a little one has a disability, this page will summarize one terrific source of help-the early intervention system in your state.

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This video provides examples on Early Intervention when it comes to infants and toddlers ages 0 to 3 years.

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Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers (0-3 years)  2012.wmv

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This video gives the viewers information on why Early Intervention is so important when it comes to their health, well-being, happiness, etc.

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This video describes what Early Brain Development is about and shows examples in children's first to three years of life.

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This video discusses the brains of infants and toddlers and the goals the parents want their children to accomplish.

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This image includes important information for the child's brain development when it comes to nutrition, and social/emotional development as well.

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This video shows us what Early Childhood Education is about and the studies shown around this.

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This website discusses The Preschool Podcast: For Leaders in Early Childhood Education. Although you have to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher, you can access the podcast articles through this website.

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HiMama Blog - Resources for Daycare Centers

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The Preschool Podcast: For Leaders in Early Childhood Education

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The Preschool Podcast is a platform for learning from leading professionals in early childhood education. Check our latest episodes and subscribe!

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This article talks about the importance of Early Childhood Education. This article also provides us with a link to find Early Childhood Education Programs in your area.

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Children learn every second of their lives. From using a fork and building sandcastles to reading and socializing, proper guidance in the form of quality early childhood education can make a big difference.

Results that children and adults achieve in school and beyond don't just depend on their natural talents. Early childhood education is an important factor.

Besides acquiring basic skills, preschoolers need to learn how to socialize, share, and form relationships. By learning this early, kids will have a much easier time interacting with their peers and teachers while acquiring a strong foundation for a fulfilling trip to adulthood.

Here is what UNESCO has to say about it:

"Early childhood care and education (ECCE) is more than preparation for primary school. It aims at the holistic development of a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. ECCE has the possibility to nurture caring, capable and responsible future citizens."

Simply put, early childhood education (ECE) helps children gain the necessary academic, emotional, and social skills to prosper in school and beyond.
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The Abecedarian Project: Why is Early Childhood Education Important?

The Abecedarian Project is a long-term study that monitors the benefits of ECE. It follows children born between 1972 and 1977. As infants, these participants were divided into two groups: those who received early education and those who didn't.

Researchers followed both groups from infancy to their forties. Kids from the first group:

Demonstrated higher IQ scores through the age of 15.

Scored higher on math and reading achievement tests in elementary and secondary school.

Had fewer placements in special education classes.

Were more likely to attend a 4-year college or university.

Were less likely to become teen parents, use drugs, or succumb to depression.

Were more likely to hold a job and a bachelor's degree at the age of 30.

Had a lower incidence of hypertension in their mid-thirties.

These impressive results speak highly of early childhood education. Similar research, like the Perry Preschool Project, demonstrated similar results.

Let's take a look at other benefits of educating children before they enter kindergarten.

1. Exploring Brain Capacity

Between birth and the fifth birthday, a child's brain develops more than at any other stage of their life. A brain completes 90% of its growth before the kid enters kindergarten. It's imperative to take full advantage of this period to ensure educational success in the future.

The study " The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3 " showed that children (under 3) from wealthy families knew 30 million more words than kids from poorer families. The reason is simple. The size of a child's vocabulary depends on how many words adults use when speaking to them.

Without ECE, kids simply don't have as many to build their brain's capacity to its fullest.

2. Acquiring Social Skills

Socializing with people other than family is an integral part of childhood education. Learning how to interact with others, be it peers or teachers, can simplify the education process in the future.

Early socialization requires adult participation and modeling. Learning how to share and cooperate is an integral part of social life. When it's done with professional guidance, children can benefit greatly.

The skills gained in a safe learning environment won't just help children socialize in school. They can improve their relationship with parents and go a long way toward gaining self-confidence.

3. Understanding the Fun of Learning

Children are always learning, but that doesn't mean it can't be hard. If children aren't prepared for the process, they can lose all their natural enthusiasm. As a result, these kids could have a tough time in elementary school and beyond.

Early childhood education professionals know how to give lessons in a fun and exciting way. Once children figure out that learning can be exciting and rewarding, they can accept the challenges that the process brings and enjoy being active learners.

4. Improving Concentration

Young children have short attention spans. Their desire to discover new things often leaves them unable to concentrate on something for a long time. Early childhood education programs give them the opportunity to discover new environments, experiences, and connections while working on their ability to focus.

By the time children go to kindergarten, they know how to listen, participate in group tasks, follow directions, and concentrate on individual projects.

5. Investing in Health

Early childhood education has both short and long-term health benefits for children. Short-term benefits stem from health interventions that usually come as part of the early education package. Preschoolers in daycare centers or other child care programs tend to undergo regular health screenings and receive nutritious meals.

Long-term benefits stem from higher income and reduced chances of risky behavior (drug use, early pregnancies, etc.), which lead to less stress and easier access to high-quality healthcare services.

How Society Benefits from Early Childhood Education

Besides being highly beneficial for children and their parents, ECE has impressive benefits for society:

Better health - lower public health costs and reduction of welfare programs.

Fewer committed crimes - less expenditure on the criminal justice system.

Higher income - higher tax returns and less spending on social security programs.

Higher labor market participation - lower poverty levels.

Early education for children can have a profound impact on society. This should result in:

Better funding for early childhood education programs

Improved staff training and working conditions

Higher quality of early education provision

Early education has already become an integral part of our society's existence. However, public funding for ECE programs has been historically very limited, and not nearly available enough to families who could use the support. With increased awareness of ECE benefits, and with corresponding increases in state and federal funding, . Early learning opportunities can become more accessible to children from all backgrounds and income levels. Every child needs access to high quality ECE.

The Takeaway

As the child's brain develops, the lack of proper early education could turn into missed opportunities in school and beyond. Studies show that children with access to ECE tend to achieve more in life than those who don't.
Why is early childhood education important? It gives children a priceless opportunity to take full advantage of their potential, skills, and talents. Besides individual benefits, early childhood education has a positive impact on society as a whole.

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The Importance of Early Childhood Education | Wonderschool Resources Hub

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Children learn every second of their lives. From using a fork and building sandcastles to reading and socializing, proper guidance in the form of quality early childhood education can make a big difference. Results that children and adults achieve in school and beyond don't just depend on their natural talents.

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This article talks about the 5 best activities for Early Childhood Development. For example, Movement Activities such as throwing and catching games.

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The early years are a time when children are learning and growing at a rapid rate. As a parent or teacher, you may want to know what is the best way for your children to spend their time.

Here is a breakdown of the five best activities for early childhood development.

When does most of the learning occur and what are the best activities for young kids to be doing in order to learn optimally?

The answer is simple.
Play!
If your children are engaging in hours and hours of play every day you can rest assured they are learning.

Read on to find out about simple play opportunities you can set up that your children will benefit from doing every day.

The preschool years are for play. Very intentional play.

During these years, all the most important foundations are being laid down and the skills needed for formal education are being put in place.

Most activities do not involve worksheets (as they are not developmentally appropriate for preschoolers), or any academic work and they can be categorized loosely into about 5 different types of activities.

They are all centred around play and they are the activities that all good preschools have built into their daily programs.

5 Early Childhood Development Activities

If you are looking for early childhood development activities to do at home or in class with your kids, as long as they fit into one of the following categories, you will know they are age-appropriate and educational.

1. Movement Activities

Movement involves free play, which gives children time to run, skip, throw, catch, gallop, jump, hop, bend, balance, walk, climb, hang, etc.

Guided movement activities are also great and can be planned by adults with a specific purpose in mind. Here are some examples:

Obstacle courses

Balancing beams

Throwing and catching games

Hopscotch, leapfrog, etc.

2. Music Activities

Music involves activities such as:

Learning simple nursery rhymes and poems

Singing songs

Playing with musical instruments (especially home-made ones)

Discovering sound through body percussion

Dancing and rhythmic moving - also develop gross motor skills

Playing music games

Music is not just about learning to sing and play instruments.

Through music, children improve their vocabulary, memory, cognitive abilities, listening skills, auditory processing skills, rhythm, and many more things.

Many of these skills are needed to be able to learn to read.

Children are naturally drawn to music and enjoy it without the self-consciousness that many adults feel when singing and dancing.

3. Creative Art

Which child doesn't love art? Most children want to draw, paint and be creative every day.

They should have exposure to many different activities and mediums:

Drawing with wax crayons, pencils, pens, chalk, etc.

Painting - including finger painting, stamp painting, painting with brushes and sponges, etc.

Box construction - such as building things out of waste materials

Cutting, tearing, pasting and collaging

Here are some really awesome creative art activities that are simple and require no prepping!

4. Reading

The benefits of reading to children are endless and bedtime stories should be a non-negotiable, every single day.

Parents and teachers should read to children in order to develop many skills.

It is also a great time to stimulate higher-order thinking skills and get your children involved in a discussion that is sure to develop critical thinking and vocabulary.

5. Play

I've left the best for last. Although the four activities listed above are still part of play, I thought I'd list this separately just to mention the various types of play children engage in.

During play, children are learning non-stop! Here are some types of play:

Above all other activities, children need large pockets of time to play daily. Play is how they discover the world and make sense of it.

What About Learning Numbers and Letters in Preschool?

You may be concerned with whether your children are learning letters and numbers, or reciting the days and months in order.

During the preschool years, learning the letters and numbers is actually not as important as you might think!

Why? Because your child will learn those things easily when they are ready. And they will be ready because they will have engaged in the right activities that develop pre-reading, pre-writing and early maths skills.

Here is a quick look at learning numbers and letters.

Learning Numbers

A child may count to 100 but they are not necessarily mature enough to have any concept of what those numbers actually represent.

They learn the value of numbers when playing, for example, in the sandpit or the bath.

When they fill up a cup of sand and turn it over, then fill another and turn it over next to the previous one, they are learning concepts such as two items or one more.

The more they play and discover, the more concepts they learn - they compare numbers, make patterns and experiment with sizes.

They may be able to rattle off the numbers out loud, but this is only one aspect of mathematics - rote counting.

Children develop a true number sense when they learn one-to-one correspondence and conceptualize what the numbers actually mean.

Learning Letters

In order for children to recognize the sounds in letters, they need to develop their auditory processing skills through play.

Nursery rhymes, poems and songs serve more of a purpose than just entertainment and fun!

Then, learning to write requires building gross motor skills through movement and play.

Fine motor skills are then developed which enable a child to hold a pencil, control it and form letters carefully.

These foundational skills cannot be rushed and pushed aside.

The last level is being able to recognize the letters and the sounds they represent when combined, and putting them together into meaningful words and sentences to be read.

Therefore, it is not necessary for children to be writing, adding numbers and reading in preschool.

Know that if your children are coming home from school filthy from head to toe, with art that doesn't resemble anything Instagram-worthy and happily signing a tune, they are probably getting a very good education.

Homeschooling? Stick to these main types of activities and your kids will thrive.

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The 5 Best Activities for Early Childhood Development

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The early years are a time when children are learning and growing at a rapid rate. As a parent or teacher, you may want to know what is the best way for your children to spend their time. Here is a breakdown of the five best activities for early childhood development.

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This article talks about the Importance of Play in Early Childhood. It also provides the benefits as well. For example, it sparks creative thinking.

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In this article, we will look at nine amazing benefits of play in child development. We will also review research results that highlight the importance of children play.

Importance of Play in Early Childhood

Why is play important for children?

Many parents intuitively know the importance of play in child development, but despite its many benefits, we rarely associate play with learning.

For most people, learning involves acquiring a specific new skill, such as memorizing alphabets, counting, writing, etc. They often believe that playing is only for fun and involves no actual learning.

However, according to studies, playing is learning. Children learn through play experiences.

The importance of play in early childhood education cannot be underestimated because learning through play is essential to a child's growth.

For more help on calming tantrums, check out this step-by-step guide

9 Benefits of Play

1. Stimulate Early Brain Development

Child play can promote brain development in many ways, including providing the child with a better understanding of the world and setting the groundwork for later brain growth.

At birth, infants' brains are equipped with an overabundance of brain cell connections (synapses). Synapse overproduction allows information captured from the early years to build a foundation for the brain.

An environment enriched with play, sensory play, and play toys provide the perfect life experiences as building blocks. Lack of play will cause the neuron connections related to play to be lost.

Neuroscientists discovered that enrichment such as toys, games, and playing can alter a brain's chemistry and the child's development. The brain area associated with higher cognitive processing (the cerebral cortex) can benefit from environmental enrichment and children's play more than other parts of the brain.

2. Improve Intelligence

Early playing also has an important role in a child's intellectual development.

One study by the University of Arkansas shows that regularly offering toys to infants to play with leads to higher IQ by age three. Later, psychologist Edward Fisher analyzed 46 studies done on playing. He found that playing could enhance a child's cognitive, linguistic, and social development.

3. Spark Creative Thinking

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of playing is that it increases a child's creativity.

Creativity is closely tied to divergent thinking, which is the thought process that explores many possible solutions and generates new ideas. Many studies have found that playing is highly associated with divergent thinking.

To test this association in a study, researchers randomly assigned 52 children, aged six to seven, to two activities. In the first activity, the children copied text from a chalkboard. In the second, the children played with salt-dough.

Later, all the children were asked to perform a creative project. A panel of ten judges found that the projects created by the children in the salt-dough group had higher creative qualities than those in the other group.

Other studies have also associated free play, especially imaginative play, with significant improvement in divergent thinking.

Free play or independent play is an unstructured form of play that encourages children to design their own play. Pretend play requires a child to imagine scenarios and then act them out. The freedom of these types of play allows children to be creative.

Imagination fuels creativity and some studies have also found that creative adolescents tend to have had imaginary friends in childhood.

4. Improve Communication, Vocabulary, and Language

The link between early play and later communication skills is evident in research, too.

One study sought to understand whether communication could benefit from play. Researchers observed what happened when an infant began playing with a toy. They found that if the mother responded by manipulating and naming the toys, the baby - when tested three months later - would have better language skills.

Another study, conducted by the University of Georgia, observed sixty-five kindergartners in their classrooms over four weeks. The presence of play, especially dramatic play, was found to predict performance in pre-reading, language, and writing.

Pretend-play is especially beneficial because it allows young children to practice new vocabulary when they speak and try to understand others. During social play, they often reciprocate each other's words and actions to reach agreements.

Self-regulation is one of the most important skills for school readiness. Well-regulated children can wait for a turn, resist the temptation to grab objects from other children, control negative emotions, and persist through challenging activities.

In a New Zealand study, psychologists examined how children handled negative events during pretend plays. They found that children who had more pretend plays with their caregivers were better at regulating their emotions to continue playing.

Emotion regulation is not only essential for academic success but also for the psychosocial aspects of child development. It is a strong predictor of a child's social success. In preschool, children who exhibit better emotional control are more likable and socially competent.

6. Grow Social Competence and Empathy

Playing is crucial in enhancing social development in children. Unstructured active play with others - including parents, siblings, and peers - is a significant opportunity to cultivate social skills. While playing, the act of pretending as well as negotiating with peers enhances children's social skills.

Playing also provides opportunities for children to learn social interaction. Wehile playing together, children learn to cooperate, follow the rules, develop self-control, and generally get along with other people.

Psychologists found that the amount and complexity of fantasy play by preschoolers significantly predicted their social skills and popularity, as well as their positive social activity.

Playful children tend to be happier, better adjusted, more co-operative, and more popular with their peers than those who play less.

Children who play more also develop more empathy, another essential element that advances social skills. Such children grow to have a better understanding of other people's feelings and beliefs.

7. Better Physical and Mental Health

We already know that play promotes a child's emotional development. Emotional intelligence is vital for a child's resilience and mental health.

Playing that involves physical activities also promotes gross motor skills, strength, endurance, and physical health.

8. Teach Life Lessons

Play helps children develop problem solving skills.

When children act out life's problems in pretend-playing, it helps them cope with the struggles in their own ways. It also provides a safe opportunity for children to rehearse skills and future social roles.

When children try out various roles, they learn to take on different perspectives, which will further assist them in abstract thinking.
Also See: Parten's 6 Social Stages of Play and Why They Are Important

9. Strengthen Relationship with Caretakers and Peers

Parents who play with their children form a stronger bond with them. Even simple games like scavenger hunts can become a special bonding moment for both parents and children. These interactions provide positive life experiences that stimulate children's brain development.

Last but not least, happy, playful moments are some of the most precious gifts we can give our children.
Final Thoughts on Play
Because play is imperative in a child's development, play-based preschools may provide a better learning environment than other alternatives. When choosing a preschool, parents should pay attention to how classes are conducted, whether the "play to learn" approach is used, and how much free-play is allowed. Creating a Montessori home is also a good alternative.

References

1. Bergen D. The Role of Pretend Play in Children's Cognitive Development. Early Childhood Research & Practice. 2002;4(1).

2. Fisher EP. The impact of play on development: A meta-analysis. Play & Culture. 1992;5(2):159-181.

3. Russ SW, Wallace CE. Pretend play and creative processes. American Journal of Play. 2013;6(1):136-148.

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Importance of Play in Early Childhood (9 Benefits & Infographic)

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Find out the nine amazing benefits of playing for kids and why it plays an important role in child development.

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This video talks about the Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development, specifically Imaginative Play. It give example for teachers to use in the classroom.

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The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Development: Imaginitive Play When Learning a New Language

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