The Importance of Cooperative Play

Fact: play time is highly significant for children -- but it’s also how they play that makes a difference, too. Children often learn some vital skills through play and having cooperative play can be crucial in their long-term development.

You may notice early on that your child likes to play alone, but the more you encourage cooperative play, the more they will be able to learn from the activities in which they participate. When your child attends Miss Sue's Summer Fun, they will continue to develop their cooperative play skills, quickly, by being around other children their age!

Strengthening Decision-Making Skills

Whether your child is playing sports, a non-competitive color war, or putting together an arts and crafts project, working with others can help improve their decision-making and social skills. At Miss Sue's Summer Fun, they’ll work together and provide each other with the best options to reach their goals!

Nurturing Cooperative Behavior

Learning how to work and play with others is essential for any child. It builds on a robust attitude and kindness in your child, allowing them to work well in team settings ultimately. They will appreciate the help of others and often choose that route rather than working alone on things.

Building Communication Abilities

Typically, at younger ages, children are hesitant to communicate because they’re not used to being in various situations. The more you encourage cooperative play, the more often they’ll be around other children and communication will become more comfortable.

Your child will go through six stages of play, including unoccupied play, solitary play, onlooker play, parallel play, associate play, and cooperative play. You don’t want to push your child towards cooperative play until he or she is ready. However, once it’s possible, cooperative play can be a great developmental tool!

When you choose Miss Sue’s Summer Fun, you can rest assured knowing that your child is safely having fun in the sun, while also building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to have a successful future. To learn more about the program, give us a call at 516-366-5623.