What should play not be considered as?

Play should not be considered merely as a way of filling time because it serves a much deeper purpose in child development. It is a vital, dynamic, and engaging activity that promotes learning, creativity, problem-solving, and social skills among children. Viewing play as simply a filler overlooks its significant contributions to cognitive, physical, and emotional growth.

In contrast, recognizing play as a structured learning activity acknowledges that play can be intentionally designed to facilitate specific learning outcomes while retaining its enjoyable nature. Moreover, play is widely regarded as an essential aspect of child development, as it nurtures children’s abilities to explore, experiment, and learn about their surroundings. Lastly, play is fundamentally a method for social interaction; it fosters relationships among peers, allowing children to practice communication and cooperation in a natural environment.