Adults who succeed in life are thought of to be the bright, diligent, and highly-driven kids at school. There is much truth to that, but that is not always the case. There are a lot of successful people who were never really academic achievers back in grade school. They are even those who love to play games and have fun with their peers every after school.
Games and group plays are great ways to help children develop physical, social, and emotional well-being. But outside of that, they are also good ways to instill great values and form good character in children while they are young. We have to remember that to succeed, you need more than brains and skills, you need to have the right attitude and values, too.
So here are ways by which group play can help develop children’s character to achieve more in life:
- It gives them a better understanding of goals, especially group goals.
When children participate in games, they don’t just mind the score. They, most of all, mind the goal. So at a very young age, they get to understand the concept of what’s right and ideal of targets, and of success measures. In their little minds, they are developing the idea of what it is that needs to be achieved and how to achieve it.
- It teaches them of the importance of teamwork.
Games, especially team games, teach children a lot about teamwork. One of the downside among smart adults is their inability to work with others. But when a child is exposed early to what a group of people can accomplish if they only work together, he becomes less egotistic and too self-reliant, and becomes more collaborative and interdependent. The concept of teamwork is very important to introduce to children at a young age if we want them to succeed, especially in the highly team-grounded corporate world, as adults.
- It allows the child to discover every person’s capabilities and values in a team.
Along with teamwork, a child also discovers that every person is gifted with a capability of his own that could be common or unique to him. This way, he will learn to appreciate each individual, and learn to give respect to everyone, not just to teammates that he meets. This also makes him more humble knowing that he does not possess all the good things in the world. And that if he allows himself to play with others, they can achieve more, together.
- It makes him better understand about winning and losing.
Games, whether individual or team, teaches children properly about the concept of winning and losing. Kids who grew up being told that “it’s okay, you are a winner to us” will never really understand that life will not always be up or down, and that there really are things that are worth fighting for. When kids are more engaged in games or sports, they will develop a stronger character which can take on defeat graciously or victory humbly.
- It makes them realize that they can always try again.
Just like in life, kids can always try again if they lose. This is perseverance. Kids who have worn their hearts and knees out playing, win or lose, will surely understand the value of perseverance and how important that ingredient is to achieve success.
Being a kid is so exciting. You can play and lose and play again without breaking your heart, an elbow maybe. But the important thing is that they get to learn valuable life lessons through games and sports, which they very much enjoy at the same time. So let loose and let your child play some more if you want him to learn more.
Little Believer’s Academy, as a daycare center in North Carolina, believes a lot in the capacity of each child. We strive our best to bring out the best in each of them through our every activity, whether in the classroom or outside of it. And we highly encourage group and outside play as a good avenue for our children to learn lessons the fun way.
For more details about our school, you may contact or visit us today.
