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document.write('<h2>Play Time! (Round 2)</h2><p><strong><em>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/services/authors');
document.write('/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a></em></strong></p><p>In this crazy, hectic world of ours');
document.write(', we often forget to stop and play.  For those of us with children, however, playing can be extremely constructive -- an');
document.write('d an important part of a child\'s growth and development.  In "Round 1" of this article, we discussed the ways in which p');
document.write('lay are a completely natural and beneficial part of a child\'s development.  We then looked at specific factors relating ');
document.write('to children aged 6 to 18 months.  Here in "Round 2", we\'ll look at symbolic play and the developmental differences in 4 ');
document.write('and 5 year olds.</p><h3>Older Children Discover Symbolic Play</h3><p>Toddlers become even more creative with their pla');
document.write('y, and they will usually begin pretending that one item is actually something else.  When my boys reached this stage of ');
document.write('development, they would turn a simple blankie into superman\'s cape.  Or combine a bigger blanket with a chair and it bec');
document.write('ame a tent.  This is the time when playing with a child can be very fulfilling for an adult.  By modeling such creativit');
document.write('y and helping children pretend, adults will get the children\'s own creative juices flowing.</p><p>At the age of 4 or 5,');
document.write(' children will usually become very "realistic" in their play.  They are beginning to pay even more attention to what the');
document.write('ir parent\'s are doing, and they will mimic these activities.  As a parent, you will see your child pretend to drive a ca');
document.write('r, or play house.  Sometimes children at this age will play alone or with an adult but, generally speaking, they will pr');
document.write('efer to play with their peers.</p><p>This is also the age at which children will usually enjoy "building toys" such as ');
document.write('Lincoln Logs and Legos.  But don\'t be surprised when they build it up and knock it right down.  For this age group is al');
document.write('so into rough-housing and ramming around!  Whatever activity they choose, you can rest assured that they will become mor');
document.write('e imaginative as they develop and grow.</p><h3>Games are Loved by 4 and 5 Year Olds</h3><p>Although there are games fo');
document.write('r younger children, it isn\'t until the age of 4 or 5 that children begin to understand the concepts of following rules a');
document.write('nd competing to accomplish specific requirements.  Three of my oldest son\'s favorite games were Chutes & Ladders, Candyl');
document.write('and and Concentration -- and he could beat me at every one of them!</p><p>This is also the age at which many children w');
document.write('ill become interested in sports.  As with other games, there are the elements of following rules and competing.  But the');
document.write('re is also that very physical element equal to rough-housing.  It is not surprising that sports are so popular -- they m');
document.write('eet a broad range of children\'s developmental needs.</p><h3>Play Builds Bonds between Parent and Child</h3><p>Playing ');
document.write('with your children will allow you to get into their world.  You will be able to share laughter and fun, as you create me');
document.write('mories that your children will carry with them for a lifetime.  Taking the time to play with your children will also hel');
document.write('p out in many, many ways, because the more a child plays, the more that child learns and grows.</p><p>And as we discuss');
document.write('ed at the end of "Round 1", parents who take time to play with their children will relearn a bit of wonder and fascinati');
document.write('on.  Play relieves your stress, which will be noticed by your child.  This reinforces the idea that play is not only fun');
document.write(', but also good for you.  If parents are very, very lucky, they may even have moments where they truly see the world thr');
document.write('ough the eyes of a child.  So always remember to make time for play time!</p><hr><h3>Life Applications:</h3><p>When yo');
document.write('u have the opportunity to play with older children, what do you do?  <br />What goes through your mind when you meet an ');
document.write('older child who does not want to play?<br />What was "playtime" like when you were 4 or 5 years old?  How does that affe');
document.write('ct you?</p><hr><hr><p>Copyright 2002-2009 <strong><em>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/servic');
document.write('es/authors/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a></em></strong><A HREF="http://www.ParishWebmast');
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