6.1 Explain how play helps children to develop their: • resilience • self-esteem • self-confidence

This guide will help you answer 6.1 Explain how play helps children to develop their: • resilience • self-esteem • self-confidence.

How Play Helps Children to Develop Resilience

Resilience means the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to challenges and keep going when things are hard. In play, children often set themselves tasks that involve trial and error. They may build a tower that falls, create a game that does not work as planned or attempt a skill that they cannot yet do. Each time they face a disappointment, they have the chance to test how they respond.

Play offers a safe space to try again. If a child’s den collapses, they can gather more materials and rebuild it. This repetition shows them that they can learn from what went wrong. It also teaches patience and persistence.

Resilience develops best when the play environment allows children to take manageable risks. These risks can be physical, social or creative. Examples include:

Climbing trees or playground equipment
Negotiating rules with peers in a game
Experimenting with new art materials

Through these experiences, they practise decision-making and problem-solving. They learn to predict possible results and think of solutions when those results are unwanted.

Resilience can also grow through pretend play. Children often weave stories where characters face difficulties. A toy figure may get lost and find their way home or a superhero may be defeated before returning stronger. Acting out these scenarios allows children to explore feelings linked to failure and recovery.

Supporting resilience in play means allowing children to take charge of their activities. Adults can encourage without taking over. By praising effort rather than just success, you help the child see that staying engaged matters just as much as winning or finishing.

Social play is another powerful area for developing resilience. Disagreements in games happen often. A child who learns to negotiate, compromise and continue playing with peers despite a conflict is practising resilience. They discover that problems in relationships can be resolved without ending the connection.

Outdoor play gives children extra chances to face natural challenges. Weather, uneven ground and unfamiliar wildlife all offer situations where children think on their feet. Managing these encounters boosts their confidence in handling the unexpected.

Through repeated experiences in different forms of play, resilience becomes a steady part of a child’s approach to life. They begin to believe they can cope with difficulties beyond the play setting.

How Play Helps Children to Develop Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is how a person values themselves and feels about their worth. Children with high self-esteem believe they are capable and respected. Play has a special role in building this because it offers constant opportunities for choice, success and recognition.

During play, children make decisions that matter to them. Choosing a game, deciding on a story plot or selecting materials for a craft project gives them a sense of control. Control over their own actions boosts feelings of worth.

Completing a play project, even in a simple form, can raise self-esteem. For example:

Finishing a puzzle
Learning a new skipping rope skill
Organising a game and getting others to join

These moments show the child that their efforts lead to visible results. The satisfaction they feel strengthens their belief in their abilities.

Praise during play should be specific and honest. Simple comments like “I like how you used lots of bright colours” or “That was a clever idea to fix the ramp” help children feel noticed and valued. Empty praise can weaken self-esteem because it does not connect to real actions.

Social play is highly effective for boosting self-esteem. Children form relationships and gain respect from peers through sharing, cooperating and leading. Positive peer feedback can be powerful. Hearing “I want you on my team” tells a child they are wanted and appreciated.

Play is flexible enough to let children set their own goals. This personal goal-setting means self-esteem is not tied only to comparison with others. A child can feel proud of reaching their own milestone, even if it is different from what others achieve.

Role play and creative arts also support self-esteem. Children can experiment with different identities and skills. Taking on the part of a chef, teacher or adventurer lets them explore qualities they may not show in other settings. Confidence in these pretend roles can carry over into their real identity.

Risk-taking in play can lift self-esteem when children succeed. Managing to climb a higher frame than before or balance across a beam builds pride. Success after a challenge is a strong boost to feelings of worth.

For children with lower self-esteem, play can be a safe way to rebuild it. They can start in small groups or quiet activities where success is more certain, then increase the complexity as they grow more confident.

How Play Helps Children to Develop Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is the belief in one’s ability to handle tasks and take part in activities. It is closely linked to self-esteem, but focuses more on trusting your skills than on your overall sense of worth.

Play allows children to practise skills without heavy pressure. They can explore without fear of serious consequences. This builds trust in their own ability to try new things.

Taking part in games with clear rules can improve confidence. Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety. Each time they play well within these rules, children feel more secure about joining structured activities.

Confidence grows when children take the lead. Leading a game, directing a role play or teaching a skill they know offers them a sense of authority. In these moments, they act as decision-makers and see that others respond positively to their guidance.

Confidence is often built through skill mastery. Play provides countless skills to learn:

Physical skills like running, climbing or ball control
Creative skills like painting, model-building or story-writing
Social skills like listening, sharing ideas and problem-solving

As children master these skills, they trust themselves to succeed again in similar tasks.

Outdoor adventure play is a notable way to grow confidence. Activities like building shelters, exploring wooded areas or handling tools encourage independence. When a child sees they can manage resources and create something real, their trust in themselves rises.

Confidence can come from overcoming fears in play. Trying out a tall slide, speaking lines in a play or joining a big group game may feel daunting at first. Once achieved, the child holds proof of their ability.

Peer approval in play can boost confidence. Being chosen for a team, having others copy their ideas or being asked for help shows them that their skills are valued.

Repeated participation in group play supports ongoing confidence. Children learn that they are welcome in shared spaces, which translates to courage in joining new groups later.

Play with mixed ages can challenge children and grow confidence. Younger children may feel proud when they keep up with older ones. Older children can gain confidence from helping and guiding younger peers.

Linking Resilience, Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence Through Play

These three areas often develop together. Resilience helps a child keep trying, which increases their skills and brings success. Success raises self-esteem. When children believe in their worth, they are more willing to try new things, which increases self-confidence. Self-confidence then supports further persistence, continuing the cycle.

Play is the perfect setting for this growth because it is flexible, enjoyable and child-led. It allows natural opportunities for challenge, recognition and achievement.

Adults can support all three areas by:

Giving children choices in play activities
Offering genuine praise linked to effort and skill
Allowing natural consequences within safe limits
Encouraging peer cooperation and leadership
Providing varied play environments indoors and outdoors

Final Thoughts

Resilience, self-esteem and self-confidence are interlinked qualities that shape how a child experiences both play and life beyond it. Through play, children test themselves in different situations. They learn to cope when things go wrong, feel proud of what they have done and trust their ability to try again. This is not about pushing children past their limits, but about giving them freedom to explore and supporting them through challenges.

In a Playwork setting, your role is to create the conditions where this growth happens naturally. Listen to ideas from the children, observe how they respond to different play situations and know when to step in or step back. The more opportunities you give for varied, self-chosen, child-led play, the more you help build these three qualities that are central to healthy development.