The role of key activities in the psychological development of children

Posted by Psychologist Truong Ta Anh Nga - Unit of Regenerative Medicine Clinic and Educational Psychology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

The main activity is the activity that determines the most important changes in the psychological processes and in the psychological characteristics of the human personality at a certain stage of development. Accordingly, age-appropriate mainstream activities will help children explore the world around them and form human emotional awareness.

In daily life, people participate in activities. Through activities with objects, activities with people, people themselves form perceptions - feelings about the surrounding world. From there, people have an impact to improve the world. This is the process of formation and psychological development.
When we see young children biting and gnawing on dolls, removing parts, twisting hair, fitting legs into hands... most of us judge children for being naughty, destroying toys without knowing that the manipulations themselves. It is a way for children to have real experiences.
The child's brain will record the experience of the surrounding world through the senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, vestibular, feeling... These experiences help children answer a series of questions Question: wooden or cloth doll, how many parts does the doll have and where are those parts located? Light or heavy, what color? Similarly, children will "ruin" all the objects in the house. And when you do not understand that it is the process of child formation and psychological development, that is also the time when the child has lost the opportunity to experience.
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In daily life, many activities take place such as: eating, going to school, communicating, going to work.... There are activities that affect a lot of psychology, and activities that affect little. The main activity is the activity that determines the most important changes in the psychological processes and in the psychological characteristics of the human personality at a certain stage of development.
Play helps children explore the world, form awareness and feelings for people and the world around them. The main activity of preschool age is playing, with the center being the themed role-playing game. Thereby, helping children form relationships with the behavioral patterns of adults.
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From birth -15 months old: infant age - the main activity is direct emotional communication with mother and adults. From 15 months to 3 years: Early childhood with the main activity being activities with objects. From 3 years old to 6 years old: Kindergarten age with the main activity is fun and the theme role-playing game is the central activity. From 6 years old to 12 years old: Children's age with the main activity being learning - corresponding to primary school level. From 12 to 15 years old: Teenagers with main activities are personal communication - intimate. From 15 years old to 18 years old: Youth with main activities is study - career. From 19 years old to 25 years old: Youth-student with main activities are studying and working. Age 25 years- onwards : Age of social work and social activities.

For each age stage, there will be a main activity. Families can build on the core activity to build and design home play activities that are appropriate for the child's characteristics.
In the process of organizing key activities for children, parents should note:
Please choose toys in an age-appropriate manner, encourage children to play in different ways instead of buying too many toys for them. young. Parents need to be patient, avoid haste, scold when children have not done as expected of parents. Play with the child's lead, imitate, expand the theme of play, and end the game clearly. Families need to reward and encourage timely encouragement. Give correct praise, such as: "I see you draw more rounded" to avoid the case of general praise: "You dance well, you draw so well, you sing well...".

Families empower and give children the opportunity to experience daily tasks that are comfortable for children such as: putting away toys, choosing clothes to wear, feeding themselves... When participating in these activities , children will form confidence, responsibility for themselves - family and later the community. This is also the foundation to teach children to love themselves and become a happy baby. And the important thing, parents play like we used to play in childhood – Play like a child.