Play and Child Development | The Medical City

Helping Your Child Grow and Develop Through Play

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | June 10, 2020

themedicalcity blue logo

Play is an essential part in a child’s growth and development so it is important that parents understand the importance of letting their children play. Play supports the three principles that facilitate child development − it reduces sources of stress, strengthens core life skills, and supports responsive relationships.


Play is an essential part in a child’s growth and development so it is important that parents understand the importance of letting their children play. Play supports the three principles that facilitate child development − it reduces sources of stress, strengthens core life skills, and supports responsive relationships.

On 06 June 2020, The Medical City (TMC) Center for Developmental Pediatrics (CDP) conducted a webinar titled “The Power of Play in the Time of Pandemic” where developmental pediatricians Dr. Marie Theresa Arranz-Lim, Dr. Pablito Planta, and Dr. Robina Hao-Dy talked about the role of play in ensuring that children grow and develop in the most optimal way.

Dr. Arranz-Lim started by defining play as engaging in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. She adds, “a child’s job is to play” and quoted Albert Einstein who said that play is the highest form of research.

Importance of Play in Early Childhood

Dr. Planta discussed the different aspects of a child’s growth and development affected by play – social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical. He said that a child’s brain is made up of millions of connections and these connections are determined by the experiences a child goes through during play. Connections that are not used are lost in a process called pruning.

As a child keeps on playing, these connections are enhanced by the social interactions he/she has with those he/she plays with. The serve and return pattern where the parent or significant adult does or says something and the child repeats or responds to it is helpful to the learning process in early childhood.

Play and Child Development

Play provides children with a safe environment where they get countless opportunities to learn. However, certain situations, such as a pandemic and prolonged quarantine or isolation, can cause undue stress which may affect learning. There are different types of stress that affect children.  It’s up to the adult to provide safety and security in order to help their child cope with stress.

Apart from reducing stress, play also provides an avenue for children to learn core life skills such as planning and problem solving. Providing children with different types of play materials allows them to hone different skills.

The speakers further discussed the different types of play and how it can impact the child’s growth and development.  The participants in the webinar were provided tips on how to engage children in various types of play and how to choose the appropriate play activities for them.   

 Indeed there were many learning pearls for all those who attended. Many others can still enjoy this webinar on play as this will be presented again later this June. Stay updated through TMC’s Facebook page. To inquire about this webinar and all other webinars by The Medical City’s Center for Developmental Pediatrics, you may contact the Center at 8-988-1000/8-988-7000 Ext. 6630 and via email at tmc_cfd@themedicalcity.com.




Helping Your Child Grow and Develop Through Play

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas

June 10, 2020


themedicalcity blue logo
Play is an essential part in a child’s growth and development so it is important that parents understand the importance of letting their children play. Play supports the three principles that facilitate child development − it reduces sources of stress, strengthens core life skills, and supports responsive relationships.

Play is an essential part in a child’s growth and development so it is important that parents understand the importance of letting their children play. Play supports the three principles that facilitate child development − it reduces sources of stress, strengthens core life skills, and supports responsive relationships.

On 06 June 2020, The Medical City (TMC) Center for Developmental Pediatrics (CDP) conducted a webinar titled “The Power of Play in the Time of Pandemic” where developmental pediatricians Dr. Marie Theresa Arranz-Lim, Dr. Pablito Planta, and Dr. Robina Hao-Dy talked about the role of play in ensuring that children grow and develop in the most optimal way.

Dr. Arranz-Lim started by defining play as engaging in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. She adds, “a child’s job is to play” and quoted Albert Einstein who said that play is the highest form of research.

Importance of Play in Early Childhood

Dr. Planta discussed the different aspects of a child’s growth and development affected by play – social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical. He said that a child’s brain is made up of millions of connections and these connections are determined by the experiences a child goes through during play. Connections that are not used are lost in a process called pruning.

As a child keeps on playing, these connections are enhanced by the social interactions he/she has with those he/she plays with. The serve and return pattern where the parent or significant adult does or says something and the child repeats or responds to it is helpful to the learning process in early childhood.

Play and Child Development

Play provides children with a safe environment where they get countless opportunities to learn. However, certain situations, such as a pandemic and prolonged quarantine or isolation, can cause undue stress which may affect learning. There are different types of stress that affect children.  It’s up to the adult to provide safety and security in order to help their child cope with stress.

Apart from reducing stress, play also provides an avenue for children to learn core life skills such as planning and problem solving. Providing children with different types of play materials allows them to hone different skills.

The speakers further discussed the different types of play and how it can impact the child’s growth and development.  The participants in the webinar were provided tips on how to engage children in various types of play and how to choose the appropriate play activities for them.   

 Indeed there were many learning pearls for all those who attended. Many others can still enjoy this webinar on play as this will be presented again later this June. Stay updated through TMC’s Facebook page. To inquire about this webinar and all other webinars by The Medical City’s Center for Developmental Pediatrics, you may contact the Center at 8-988-1000/8-988-7000 Ext. 6630 and via email at tmc_cfd@themedicalcity.com.



Share

facebook icon share twitter icon share linkedin icon share mail icon share icon

Related News

No records found.