“游戲給兒童提供了一個把理論應用于實踐的機會。”
世界上有大量的研究在特別關注在游戲中兒童認知能力的受益。從神經學到兒童發展研究方面的專家都廣泛認同游戲對兒童大腦的發展發育有重要的作用。研究發現，兒童的游戲經歷影響著神經系統的發展，并決定了大腦神經回路的形成，從而影響兒童的智力、發音能力和自信心。
通過游戲，兒童得以學習并鍛煉很多他們成年后需要的技能。游戲幫助發展兒童的語言能力和邏輯技能，鼓勵兒童進行自主思考，并學習如何獨立解決問題，幫助提高兒童的精神集中度及對自己行為的控制能力。通過游戲，兒童學習如何探索發現，鍛煉自己的語言能力、判斷能力、推理能力、操作控制能力和創造力，并提高兒童的思維過程。游戲幫助兒童理解自己行為會產生的結果及風險，從而幫助兒童在成長過程中學會做出正確決策。
很多特定的游樂設施有助于鍛煉兒童的認知能力。研究指出，游戲面板和裝飾性擋板可以提高兒童對形狀和事物的理解，對空間、深度/高度及尺寸的理解，鍛煉兒童的視覺和觸覺。懸掛設施讓兒童更深刻地理解重力的作用和空間意識。秋千則通過空間幫助兒童學習知覺過程和身體的知覺。
“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” Fred Rogers American children’s television personality 1928-2003 There is a wide body of research that focuses specifically on the cognitive benefits of children’s play. Experts from neuroscientists to child development researchers widely agree that play is essential for brain development. Studies have shown that play experiences affect neurological development and determine how the neural circuits of the brain are wired. This can affect a child’s intelligence, ability to articulate and confidence. A leading child development theorist, Jean Piaget, believed that the role of play in constructing knowledge is the most clearly articulated avenue of children’s development.
Through play, children learn and practice many of the skills they will need as adults. Play helps children develop language and reasoning skills, encourages autonomous thinking and problem solving, and helps kids improve their ability to focus and control their behavior. Through play, children learn discovery, verbal skills, judgment and reasoning, manipulative skills and creativity, and they improve their thought processes. Play helps children learn about consequences and risk, which helps them with decision-making as they grow up.
Certain types of playground equipment facilitate cognitive learning for kids. Research points to activity panels and decorative barriers that improve children’s perception of form and shape, spatial orientation, depth and size, and their visual and tactile perception. Overhead hanging equipment helps kids learn scientific concepts such as the force of gravity and spatial awareness. Swings help kids learn perceptual processes and body awareness through space.
轉自美國IPEMA Voice of Play官方網站 翻譯：Cathy Xu
