Playgroups in Karin Dom

Play – why is it so important?

Play and toys have their specific place in people’s life. Since its birth every child is immerced in the world of play. With the help of the toys the child gets to know the world around it, acquires communication and social skills. When a kid grows up the toys and the games change as well, becoming more complex and diverse. Parents intuitively choose which toys to offer to their kids and they alomost always make the right choice – without consciously realizing what functions this toys serve and how important they are for the child’s development. But sometimes the parents face the questions what toys to offer, how to play with them, why are they appropriate. In that case the paretns need the assistance and support of specialists who can help them orientate in the huge variety of toys and explain which of them will be of greatest benefit to the child according to its age.

Every toy can be used in many different ways depending on what the parents and the specialists want to accomplish. This means that one toy can serve a variety of functions – to develop and improve child’s motor activity, sensory integration, improve motivation, etc.
 
How to play with our kids?

• Play with your child wiht love, patiance and respect
• Help him/her when playing games and reinforce him/her
• Always answer your child when it seeks communication with you
• Offer the child appropirate toys, take the best of the surrounding environment

Provoke the kid’s desire to play with you and the other kids. 

Why to participate in play groups?

For the children

• Play is remarkable because it gives the child a lot of pleasure. Playing in a group or by themselves kids practice their motor skills, learn how to handle different objects, improve their understanding and usage of speech and learn to interact with other children and adults. They acquire all those skills with joy and without any effort. 
• In playgroups parents can communicate with their kids freely and this helps the child to try new things, to handle difficulties. The skills acquired here are easily transfered to everyday situations.    

For the parents

• In a cosy environment the parents have the opportunity to play alog with their children, to help them to get to know the world, to teach them social skills and to interact with others. Playgroups are а chance for parents to become more competent for dealing with the age crisis and the social-emotional problems in their kids’ development. 
• Group play helps for the harmonization of the relationship parent – child and in the same time gives the parents an opportunity to see different models for dealing with conflicts.

How are play groups organized?

Organizing play groups gives specialists and parents an opportunity to work together. Using play they have the chance to teach children aged 1 to 4 the neccessary skills and habits (intellectual, motor, speech, social) in a home-like environment. This activity does not require the dramatic separation from the parents.Including a child in a playgroup happens at the request of the parent and in his presense. The classes take place at an appointed hour in safe and stuctured environment, with age-appropriate toys and equipment (consistent with the sanitary norms.) The instructors in the groups can be speech therapists, psychologists, pedagogues, or other early child development specialists, working under supervision.

Why is it important to continue playing at home after the playgroups, this time including all of the family members? 

Playing is the main activity of kids aged 1 to 4 years. Most importantly it is a continuous proccess and it only requires desire to get involved. Playing is spontaneous and birngs joy to both the child and the parent. Continuing the play at home allows the child to apply the models it has learned in the playgroup in its everyday activities and games.