“游戲反映出我們是怎樣的人。”
-- Ovid-羅馬詩人
兒童從游戲中獲得的很多重要受益從表面上是看不出來的。其中一項就是情商發(fā)展。自由游戲是對兒童情商發(fā)展至關(guān)重要的因素。研究指出，游戲在三個方面促進兒童EQ的發(fā)展:
建立自信心和自尊心
經(jīng)歷各種不同的情緒
心靈的創(chuàng)傷得以釋放
自由游戲（如冒險活動、沖突解決及激發(fā)想象力的角色扮演游戲等）有助于提高兒童各項技能的發(fā)展，從而培養(yǎng)兒童的自信心和自尊心。攀爬及懸吊等有挑戰(zhàn)性的游樂設(shè)施給兒童一種成就感，從而更加提高兒童的自我認可。與其他小朋友的社會交流能力的提高或者獨立完成游戲的能力，都是建立兒童自信心的關(guān)鍵因素。
研究顯示兒童會在自由游戲中表達自己的情緒，并學(xué)習(xí)如何應(yīng)對自己的恐懼感及曾經(jīng)受驚嚇的經(jīng)歷。自由游戲讓兒童可以把自己的情緒完完全全地表達出來而沒有保留。有些游樂設(shè)施可以培養(yǎng)兒童的想象力。如攀爬管或任何相對封閉的空間，兒童可以想象成自己在房間里、車?yán)锘驅(qū)W校內(nèi)。自由游戲中，兒童可以利用想象類游戲或角色扮演類游戲來模擬體驗不同的經(jīng)歷和感覺，讓兒童打破現(xiàn)實生活的限制，經(jīng)歷新的事物。不同年齡段的兒童體驗到的感覺也有所不同。學(xué)齡前兒童培養(yǎng)的是其情緒的穩(wěn)定性，而大一些兒童培養(yǎng)的則是其思考的同步性和幽默感。
經(jīng)證實，對心靈和精神受過創(chuàng)傷的兒童，如經(jīng)受家庭暴力、家庭變故、自然災(zāi)害或戰(zhàn)爭的兒童，游戲有治療作用。專家研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，通過游戲，兒童可以自由釋放自己的情緒，在游戲中忘卻痛苦，同時增強其安全感，并逐漸可以與其他人分享自己的感覺。讓兒童在游戲中自由表達自己的情緒和情感與鍛煉兒童健康的體魄同等重要。德國物理學(xué)家Albert說“游戲是研究的最高形式。”
“In our play we reveal what kind of people we are.” Ovid Roman Poet 427-347 BC There are several important benefits children derive from play that are not seen on the surface. One of these is a child’s emotional development, and free play is an important key to a child’s emotional growth. Research has pointed to three areas where play helps children develop emotionally:
Building self-confidence and esteem
Experimenting with various emotions
Releasing emotions from trauma
Free play encourages children to develop skills that build self-confidence and self-esteem, such as risk-taking, conflict resolution and imaginative dramatic play. Playground equipment like climbers and overhead hanging apparatuses presents kids with physical challenges, which build a sense of accomplishment that leads to higher self-esteem. Social development with other children, and the ability to play on their own, can also be important factors in building self-confidence.
Research has shown children use free play to express their emotions and to learn to deal with their fears and scary experiences. Free play allows children to express themselves completely, without holding back. Certain playground equipment fosters experimentation, like tunnels and enclosed spaces, where kids can simulate being in a house, car or school. During free play, kids can use imaginative or pretend play to experience different feelings and outcomes. This allows them to break out of the limitations of their reality and experience new things. These experiences and feelings change as a child grows older. Preschoolers develop emotional strength and stability while older children develop spontaneity and humor.
Play has also proven to be therapeutic for children who have emotional wounds from trauma, including child abuse, family disruptions, and children who experience the effects of natural disaster or war. Specialists’ studies have shown that through play, children can release emotions and “play out” their traumas, while developing a sense of safety so they can share feelings freely. Encouraging children to express themselves freely during play is as important as encouraging good physical health. “Play is the highest form of research.” Albert Einstein German-American Physicist 1879-1945.
轉(zhuǎn)自美國IPEMA Voice of Play官方網(wǎng)站 翻譯：Cathy Xu
