Many moms already know the dangers of too much screen time: childhood obesity, reduced muscle and cognitive development, and increased stress. Inviting children to imaginative play offers a stress-free, physically and mentally stimulating activity where the child’s dreams are limitless and they learn skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
Benefits of Imaginative Play:
- Problem-solving skills: From taking turns to deciding who plays what role and distributing props, kids learn real-life negotiation strategies.
- Language advancement: Have you ever noticed your child parroting the words and inflection used by her caregivers? Word-association and vocabulary is practiced during pretend play.
- Emotional/Social development: Children inherently know how to play and come up with various scenarios. Including others in their storylines requires them to use empathy and look beyond themselves to include playmates in their fantasy world.
- Bonding with adults: When caregivers engage children in imaginative play, they can offer new vocabulary, wisdom, and a sense of security.
- Stress relief: The pace of life these days, with play-dates, after-school activities, and other obligations can be daunting for a youngster. Pretend play is a great way for kids to de-stress.
How to Invite Creative Play
- Remember, it’s Fun! There is no right or wrong way to do it. Intervene only when dangerous or inappropriate play is being conducted. Allow the child to take the lead.
- Provide toys that encourage creativity. These include classic toys with no batteries, dress-up items, household items, boxes, etc. that will allow the child to create various “settings” for his or her pretend adventures. Tip: Having a place to store these items in an easily-accessible place for the child will encourage impromptu play-sessions.
- Get involved: Be silly, dress up, help to build a fort, or demonstrate a puppet-show.
- Plan for no planning: Instead of expecting an outcome, like a finished painting or proper ending to a story line, encourage the child to express himself in any way he wishes.
- Go outside! It’s a change of scenery, and it offers an unending supply of play options. Children are better at recognizing these options than adults, so allow them to lead.
