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Activities ‘help a child develop important skills’

October 20, 2011

Getting children active is the best way to make them learn literacy and other skills, according to one expert.

Creative play enables children to use their imagination and learn about life successfully, Joanne Mallon, a life coach and author has suggested.

According to Ms Mallon, active play which uses the hands will significantly increase a child's awareness of co-ordination, motor skills and eventually writing.

Her comments come after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported that unstructured play is better for a child's development than educational TV.

Ms Mallon also advised parents to interact with children. She said: "Anything from putting away the laundry to going for a walk can become a chance to use descriptive language and teach your child."

In the study by the AAP, findings showed that children learn to think creatively, solve problems and develop reasoning and motor skills through physical activity from an early age. It concluded that free play also teaches them how to entertain themselves.