7 Benefits of Imaginative Play for Children’s Development
Why to Encourage Play
Parents are constantly hearing that play is very positive for their children’s imagination… do you want to know why? Here we explain seven benefits of imaginative play:
1. Play as a place for experimentation.
Play is an intrinsic aspect of human beings, and it takes place spontaneously, without any specific goals. Acting without a goal creates an ideal space to experiment. A child that does not play most likely has some deficiencies in other areas. No doubt you have witnessed children who remain on the sidelines upset and unable to separate from their parents, while other kids participate in the game without worry or asking for permission. In this case, the attachment problem of the child is also blocking his or her symbolic world, since they are trapped in the phantasmagoric world of abandonment, while also missing the chance to experiment.
2. The Imaginative Scenario VS. the Real Scenario.
Play has no limits. It is timeless and in some aspects, it resembles the absurdity of a dreamlike world. The space children visit while playing doesn’t abide by the rules of physics, but rather by the rules defined by the players. The imaginative scene does not coincide with the real scene, but somehow they have to make it work. In imaginative play, the participants establish norms of what exactly is possible, that they adjust accordingly based on who is dictating and with the approval of others. If I dream of climbing to the highest castle I would have to look for an ideal space and strategy to make this happen. Children who play within the imaginative scenario get to dominate their environment, by connecting the fantasy created in their imagination with the real scenario.
3. Psychomotor skills
A child learns an infinite amount of skills while throwing stones at the river’s edge, as they balance on a slippery slope able to maintain perfect equilibrium between each throw. This simply can not be learned theoretically while sitting in class or in front of a device. The type of pleasure and fulfilment the child experiences in each of these situations is completely different. The neurological footprint caused by the former allows the child to absorb and transfer those particular learning skills to the rest of their life, and to put them into practice throughout their lifetimes.
4. Moments of catharsis, facing fears and frustrations.
Imaginative play is associated with fundamental forms of catharsis, where the child can release energy instantly or from what has been accumulating throughout day. This phenomenon has essential benefits for the development of physical, social, emotional and cognitive functions. We see this happening when a child imitates their teachers´ punishments and reprimands (or those that intimidate them) in their play. It also happens when the child faces a tree, and through a game, develops new skills to climb and reach these new heights.
5. Exploration of all possibilities.
Creativity has long since been recognised as one of the most important skills for human beings: it helps us to increase the possible options and paths available when facing any challenge. The options we can conceive are directly proportional to the neurological connections happening in the brain, which are increased by the experiences of failure. Imaginative and free play also allow us to learn from the paths taken, from the exploration of the best alternatives and the wrong choices taken. From a neurological level, “making mistakes” allows the brain to find misconceptions that expand the realm of possible solutions toward the desired goal. Making mistakes enriches the accumulated experiences. It also helps to deal with frustration and with the immediate research of more suitable options from what’s been learnt.
6. The pleasure of play.
Another element to consider is the aspect of experimented pleasure: while the players are increasing their skills in the experience, they are also enjoying themselves. Therefore, the pleasure of curiosity connects with the satisfaction of exploring, discovering and benefitting from the experience. Together with these pleasures is the pleasure of control that the players feel in the imaginative scenario, as we explained earlier. Finally, we can add the pleasure of the parental gaze, an essential element in the process of parenthood that helps the child to feel supported and to organise their psyche.
7. The suitcase of memories.
Finally, the experience of play creates a suitcase of memories, an endless hoard of experiences that will serve as successful models to be applied to similar situations in the future.
The goal is clear: to overcome the walls that arise in closed spaces. Right now, as children spend more and more time at home playing and learning online, we need to find appealing alternatives to foster their infinite creativity. This is the challenge of School of Wonder. We are creating a community of parents, teachers and families that are aware of this reality and wish to provide their children with beneficial tools; an alternative way of learning.
School of Wonder suggests a journey, a map, a park… and you set the limits.
JULIA DURRUTY is a psychologist specialized in children’s development and happiness. Based in Madrid, she assists families around the world. She also advises School of Wonder on social-emotional learning matters in child development.
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