In today’s world, parents often find themselves balancing structured learning with opportunities for free play. But what if play isn’t just a break from learning—what if it’s the most powerful tool for helping your child thrive? At Brainstars, we understand that play is essential for developing the skills your child needs for a lifetime of success.
Research from experts like Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek shows that play engages various parts of the brain, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills. Play embodies the “6 C’s” of effective learning: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence. These are the very skills we nurture through our activities and academic enrichment programs at Brainstars.
Quick Takeaway: Providing your child with opportunities for both structured and unstructured play allows them to explore, learn, and grow in a natural and joyful way.
Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, emphasizes that play helps children develop empathy, resilience, and social competence. Through engaging extracurricular activities and enrichment classes, children learn to share, negotiate, and build relationships—essential skills that extend beyond childhood.
Parent Tip: Organize afterschool programs or community events where your child can collaborate with others. These experiences build empathy and help children become confident communicators.
Sir Ken Robinson has long championed the idea that creativity is just as important as literacy. Through play, children are free to make mistakes, experiment, and try again—developing the grit and adaptability needed to think outside the box. This is the foundation for future problem-solving and leadership.
Actionable Idea: Encourage your child to engage in activities like storytelling, drawing, or building projects. At Brainstars, we integrate creative play and hands-on learning into our enrichment programs, helping children bring their unique ideas to life and gain confidence in their creative process.
Janine Halloran, a mental health counselor, shares that play helps children manage stress and develop resilience. Simple activities such as imaginative play or building with open-ended toys can make a big difference.
Antonia Llull, an occupational therapist, points out that balancing traditional and digital play is key. While educational apps can be useful, physical play engages the senses in a way that digital tools can’t.
Final Thought: At Brainstars, we integrate these powerful aspects of play into our academic enrichment and afterschool programs to help children learn and grow. Our goal is to make play not just an activity, but a cornerstone of your child’s development, empowering them to become confident, creative, and resilient.
Join Brainstars today and unlock your child’s potential through the transformative power of play.