“游戏给儿童提供了一个把理论应用于实践的机会。”
世界上有大量的研究在特别关注在游戏中儿童认知能力的受益。从神经学到儿童发展研究方面的专家都广泛认同游戏对儿童大脑的发展发育有重要的作用。研究发现，儿童的游戏经历影响着神经系统的发展，并决定了大脑神经回路的形成，从而影响儿童的智力、发音能力和自信心。
通过游戏，儿童得以学习并锻炼很多他们成年后需要的技能。游戏帮助发展儿童的语言能力和逻辑技能，鼓励儿童进行自主思考，并学习如何独立解决问题，帮助提高儿童的精神集中度及对自己行为的控制能力。通过游戏，儿童学习如何探索发现，锻炼自己的语言能力、判断能力、推理能力、操作控制能力和创造力，并提高儿童的思维过程。游戏帮助儿童理解自己行为会产生的结果及风险，从而帮助儿童在成长过程中学会做出正确决策。
很多特定的游乐设施有助于锻炼儿童的认知能力。研究指出，游戏面板和装饰性挡板可以提高儿童对形状和事物的理解，对空间、深度/高度及尺寸的理解，锻炼儿童的视觉和触觉。悬挂设施让儿童更深刻地理解重力的作用和空间意识。秋千则通过空间帮助儿童学习知觉过程和身体的知觉。
“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.
转自美国IPEMA Voice of Play官方网站 翻译：Cathy Xu
