· By S. S. Coulter
5 Key Ways Play Develops Planning Skills in Kids
Oh I love talking about the benefits of play, and I pretty much always point to the list below from Empowered Parents. Play is not just a silly thing kids to do pass the time, it is an essential part of building skills to flourish in life. Today, we are going to focus on #4, Planning Skills.
- Brain Development
- Creativity
- Social Skills
- Planning Skills
- Motor Development
- Problem Solving
- Language Development
- Independence
- Visual Perception
- Auditory Perception
- Spatial Perception
- Healthy Expression
Play helps with planning skills? Absolutely. From planning a store before building it with Legos to planning how many blankets are needed for a fort, the skill of planning is constantly developed while children play.
Why Planning Skills Are So Important
Although planning may not seem all that complicated, it is actually a complex skill that helps us accomplish our goals, solve problems, manage our calendar, and so much more. For planning to happen, kids must draw on other skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-control. We use planning to build a roadmap to reach an end, as well as decide what things to focus on along the way.
Not having this essential skill shows up in small ways, like a child running out of space on a page while drawing a scene, or in bigger ways, like teens struggling to plan out an essay or adults missing deadlines because they can’t manage their calendars.
5 Ways Play Enhances Planning Skills
Planning is essential to our everyday tasks, and play is a vital (and fun!) way children can practice it. Let’s look at 5 ways play enhances planning skills:
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Develops Independence and Decision-Making Skills
Developed through: Free Play
Free play, which is play without structured guidelines, allows kids to set their own goals and then figure out how to achieve them. Take the fort example I mentioned above, even when kids work to build a simple fort, they plan what materials they’ll need, how to construct it, and what role everyone will play. -
Increases Foresight and Flexibility
Developed through: Role-Playing
Remember pretending you were a superhero? Think back through all the different places you flew and people you saved. When our children engage in this type of awesome role-playing, they come up with scenarios and must think ahead. Thinking through how their imaginative day will unfold helps them plan for multiple outcomes and adjust when things don’t go as expected. -
Teaches Strategic Thinking and Organization
Developed through: Board and Card Games
We probably haven’t thought much about it, but games like Uno, Monopoly, and Checkers require us to think several steps ahead, consider alternatives, and adjust our approach based on what the other players do. This form of structured play builds strategic thinking and teaches kids how to organize their thoughts to beat the competition! -
Enhances Project Planning and Sequencing
Developed through: Constructive Play Such as Blocks, Puzzles, Arts & Crafts
When using building blocks, assembling puzzles, or working on crafts, kids have a design in mind so must plan their steps to achieve their desired outcome. Whether they’re constructing a tall tower or drawing a picture of their family, they must think about what comes first, what tools they need, and how to fix things if they don’t go as planned. -
Teaches Collaboration and Team Planning
Developed through: Social Play Such as Group Games and Shared Activities
When children play together – creating a pretend store, staging a puppet show, or organizing a backyard treasure hunt – they practice negotiating, assigning roles, and making group decisions. This helps them learn how to plan as a team, communicate with each other effectively, and lead or follow as needed.
All this just by playing? Yes! For this and so many other reasons (see: Technology Addiction Statistics: A Wake-Up Call for Parents), we must encourage our kids to play! Let them become superheroes, build a blanket fort, deal a few cards, and plan a show you won’t want to miss. They’ll be having so much fun while building a skill that’s essential to their future success and happiness. Win-win!
For more on the power of play:
How Screen Time Affects Children's Motor Skills
The Power of Play: How Play Builds Vital Skills in Early Childhood by The Alliance for Early Childhood
5 Fun Ways to Help Develop Your Child's Planning Skills by Foothills Academy Society
The Power of Play: How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive by healthychildren.org