top of page
Writer's pictureAlexandra Epstein

Types of Play and Why Play is Important for Language Development

Play is an essential part of language development. Play contributes to children's cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth. Play allows children to learn about and navigate their environments. Play skills are a crucial foundation for language skills, such as conversational turn-taking and problem-solving; play helps teach our little ones about cause and effect, requesting, and socializing with others. Speech Therapists target many early language skills through play, such as requesting, labeling, following directions, joint attention, and so much more.


Four main types of play help elicit and develop early language skills. These include Exploratory, Relational & Functional, and Symbolic Play.


Exploratory Play

Exploratory play is typically the 1st kind of play that children learn. This occurs between ages 2 and 10 months. Children use play to explore and learn about their toys and environments in this stage. They are developing an understanding that the objects (or body parts) around them serve a function. This is done using all four senses touch, taste, smell, and hearing. Examples of exploratory play are shaking a rattle to make a noise, banging two blocks together using playdough, or splashing in the tub. This play type is an early step to understanding primary cause and effect. Exploratory play can sometimes get messy, but little ones need to learn about the world around them!


Relational Play

Relational play is when children explore objects by manipulating them. For example, children group objects, stack objects, build with things, etc. This often takes place between 10-18 months old. The relational play uses two objects or objects with multiple parts. Familiar toys for relational play include stacking cups, blocks, and toy kitchen items.

Relational play is another means for children to explore their environments by learning about different sizes, colors, shapes, and object functions. In addition, relational play works on motor skills, hand-eye coordination, pattern recognition, concentration, and problem-solving. These skills are all required for language development.


Functional Play

Functional play refers to using toys for their intended function. When children are babies or very young or 1st introduced to a toy, they may not know how it is designed to be played with. Everything may go straight to the mouth ( a form of exploratory play). Functional play emerges between 12-18 months of age. Functional and relational play often overlap and can be very similar. Functional play is often learned by imitation. Your baby sees you eat an apple, so they pick up their toy apple! Functional play includes rolling or bouncing balls, playing with toy instruments, racing cars, or string with a toy spoon.


Symbolic Play

Symbolic play is also known as pretend play. Symbolic play happens when your child starts to use objects to represent other objects. Examples include playing vet using stuffed animals, dress-up, using a cup for a microphone, playing superhero with household prompts, and so much more! This type of play requires imagination and higher cognitive functioning than the previously mentioned types. For example, children use language and gestures to express emotions, describe, use familiar words in different contexts, interact with peers through shared social schemes, turn-take, and tell stories. Symbolic play begins to emerge around 18 months old but continues to develop and evolve through preschool and kindergarten.


Ways to help your child develop play skills

Start by playing at your child's level. If they are currently in the exploratory phase, introduce new toys highly sensory stimulated by sound, texture, or visual stimulation. Show your child how to touch, shake, and move the toys. Next, introduce functional play with your child. Use age-appropriate toys and model how they are intended to be used. Positively phrase your child when they learn how to access a new toy or play with it differently. Once your child has established a few early play skills, start engaging them and modeling a few pretend-to-play schemes. Modeling is the best way to teach our little ones how to play! Get creative, and most importantly, have FUN!


For more information on play skills and early language elicitation, subscribe to the Wekiva Kids Therapy blog for regular updates and information on language, speech, feeding, and occupational therapy.


Contact Wekiva Kids Therapy to set up a consultation with a Speech-Language Pathologist or Occupational Therapist today if you have additional questions or concerns about your child's play or language development.




Comments


bottom of page