Playtime is one of the things your child must look forward to every day, and their idea of playtime is – you may have guessed it – an all-day affair. This is especially true if you have a toddler, as it’s the actual time when they are getting to know their bodies and what they can do. Toddlerhood is when they become more adept with their motor skills and development, after all. As a parent, it’s normal for you to feel very proud of seeing them go so far, and you may want to do all you can to encourage this growth. If you are trying to find ways to enhance your child’s development, you can very well take advantage of soft play. But what is soft play, and what are its real advantages and benefits? Here’s a close look.
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Soft play: the basics
Soft play is a set of activities and equipment that can stimulate your child’s senses. By creating an area exclusively for soft play, you can provide your child with a safe and effective environment to process information and explore. If your child has a soft play area or environment, they can more easily react to different stimuli and engage with them, whether it’s a new texture, shape, colour, or material. With soft play equipment and toys, you can help your child achieve better balance and enhance their awareness of their physical capabilities, emotions, and surroundings.
You can set up an area for soft play at home with select toys and equipment, and with this, you can provide your child with a fun (and safe!) place where they can develop their essential skills. In addition, you can make the area even more personalised for your child with a few key additions that aid in soft play.
The real advantages and benefits
Cognitive growth and development
One of the most evident advantages of soft play is that it can enhance your child’s thought processes and help them understand the concept of cause and effect. It can also help them get a clearer understanding of how items interact with their hands and eyes.
A secure place for children
When children are in a safe indoor environment and space, you can enhance their sense of security and make them feel more at ease. When they feel secure, it’s easier for them to move around and interact with other children, which they may not otherwise be able to do. Children can have better confidence by being in such a place and environment, and they can then transfer this feeling of confidence to their real-life interactions as they get older.
Social development
Even if soft play toys and equipment are most preferred by toddler children, it’s not limited to younger kids. Older children also love relaxing on soft pillows and cushions whilst interacting with each other. Some kids develop their social skills naturally, but others may need to be motivated in a safe and secure place. You can enhance the soft play area by adding sounds and lights, making it more appealing to kids.
Adaptability and problem-solving ability
An environment like a soft play area or room can give kids new chances and opportunities to tackle problems and experiment. When they face a unique situation, they can become more creative and not hesitate to seek new techniques and approaches to adapt.
