Cookies & Coffee Workshop 3

Child development experts agree that play is very important in the learning and emotional development of all children. Through play children develop their personalities and a positive sense of self, realize their potential and experience success. Play unlocks children's creativity and imagination, and develops reading, thinking and problem solving skills as well as motor skills. Through play, children process and manage emotions, and learnt to understand and interpret the world around them. Play helps children learn relationship and social skills, and develop values and ethics.

Through the 2 hours, Mrs Patricia Koh brought parents through the Power of Play, saying "Play is a "brain food" to help the brain develop in ways critical to school success. It provides the foundation for learning, including language, reading, thinking and reasoning skills. In addition, parent-child play provides important opportunities for parent-child bonding.

In addition, she explained 8 Types of Play, pointing out that the most authentic play experiences are child-initiated, freely chosen, and child powered. Such play is pleasurable and fun, active and mind absorbing.

"Most of the time, parents are tied down with their daily chores, duties and forget to relax and be playful with their kids during play. Through this session, I've learnt that taking time to relax and be playful with my kids is essential. This will ensure they enjoy their play and learn in the process", commented Lim Siew Ling.

"I've learnt that play needn't be expensive, and this fresh perspective on learning through play has been helpful. I'd definitely recommend this to my friends", says Edmund Choo.

When asked what they liked about the workshop, most participants cited the fact that they were engaged in PLAY themselves throughout the workshop, to get them to enjoy play and see themselves as active participants in PLAY.