Imaginative play is so fun and helpful for children in many different ways. However, parents are oftentimes at a loss as to how to encourage this, especially with screen time being so enticing to children. Here are some benefits to imaginative play as well as some suggestions for how to easily incorporate it into your family life!
Benefits of Imaginative Play
Why is imaginative play so important? One primary reason is that imaginative play helps the brain to develop in healthy ways. Specifically, children learn ways of thinking that positively impact social functioning, identity development, and self-confidence. If a child can imagine something, the brain lights up differently than if a child passively consumes something (e.g. TV, etc.). Imaginative tasks building stronger connections to different parts of the brain that can improve how the brain solves problems, interprets situations, and creates new ideas. Let’s consider several of the many benefits of imaginative play:
Critical Thinking: Imaginative play helps develop a child’s brain so that it is able to offer a stronger foundation for critical thinking. This critical thinking skill will continue to develop as child becomes a teenager and ultimately an adult. Children develop a sense of curiosity through play, which can lead to them thinking more deeply and comprehensively about concepts or ideas. Obviously this depends on the child’s development, but encouraging imagination can be important at nearly any age.
Personal Identity: Imaginative play enables a child to explore different identities and learn more about themselves. When a child gets to play out a fantasy of being another person, another gender, an animal, or any other imaginative role they are having the opportunity to explore many possibilities of who they are or could be. This also helps children hone in on their interests and what they like to do.
Empathy: Imaginative play helps a child to develop empathy. We know that empathy is quite important and that it is not a quality human beings are naturally born with; it has to be taught. By pretending to be someone else, a child is able to see the world through another set of eyes, and is thus developing this essential socio-emotional skill. They also get to play out scenarios or situations between multiple play characters which can help them understand how situations or events impact relationships and emotions.
Conflict Management: Imaginative play helps children learn conflict management skills. Children will not always agree when playing. Imaginative play gives them an opportunity to rupture and repair their relationships, learn to compromise, know that is is okay to disagree, and learn how to advocate for themselves.
A Sense of Control: Imaginative play gives children a sense of control in their lives. Overall, children experience very little power and control in their own lives. They are typically told when and what to eat, when to sleep, when to wake up, and where they are going. In imaginative play, children can create an imaginary world in which they get to make all of the decisions!
Implementing Imaginative Play
Finding time, space, settings, and opportunities for imaginative play will hopefully be easier than you think! Here are some ideas to consider:
Boredom: Let children be bored. Boredom encourages them to use their brains and get creative. One way to do this is by limiting screen time, as most activities with screens involve passively
consuming content. Don’t allow the tablet, video game, or TV screen to provide the source of entertainment, but instead encourage your children to generate their own entertainment creatively. Humans have lived for thousands of years without screens, so in many ways it is more natural to use imagination rather than having it “spoon fed” to us through a screen.
Don’t micromanage: Get out of their way! Give them a few toys (or not!) and let them figure it out. You do not have to suggest anything or direct their play. Who knows what type of world they may create without adult interference. You may find them recreating a scene from a favorite story…or creating an entirely new story!
Outdoor time: Get children outside. Trees, bushes, and other vegetation can become all sorts of things in a child’s mind, such as a hideout, a house, or a castle.
Sometimes less truly is more. Simplifying the toys our children have and focusing on those that enable children to utilize their creativity can be quite helpful. An added advantage is that many of these playthings I will mention are far more affordable than many of the fancy, high profile toys out there. Here are some of my favorite items that encourage imaginative play:
Building Blocks: With blocks, children are able to create any sort of world that
interests them! Some of my favorite blocks are called Tree Blocks. They are made from trunks and branches of trees. These are great for creating gnome homes and other fantastical dwellings.
Natural Materials: Items from nature such as rocks, shells, sticks, flowers, and seed pods that you can collect from walks and hikes can become so many things in a child’s imagination! Making clothing for the fairies from natural materials is truly enchanting.
Textiles: Play silks are a favorite of mine. They are typically dyed squares of silk, kind of like a silk scarf. They can be used to create many things from dress-up cloths (fairy, pirate, etc) to doll or animal carriers. Fabric is great too. Using an old sheet to make a fort in the back yard or the park can provide for endless fun! Or letting children use fabric scraps to sew whatever they want can truly spark their creativity and give them a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
Dress-up Clothes: An old hat, funny shoes, or a cast-off bridesmaid’s dress all provide delightful fun. Children can become anyone they want to with just a few items. Thrift stores are wonderful places to build up a wardrobe!
Boxes: Ah, the trusty cardboard box. No article on play would be complete without this classic standby! Small boxes can be used for building or hiding treasures. Large boxes can turn into forts, houses, schools, or stores.
Any and all of these ideas can be combined in different ways to create wonderfully fulfilling activities. Your children will derive tremendous value from the opportunity to play creatively and though they might need encouragement from you to break existing “screen habits,” the advantages of imaginative play are well worth it.
About Dr. Katie Godfrey
Dr. Godfrey excels at building meaningful connections with her clients as they work together in a warm, non-judgmental environment where her clients can experience being deeply cared for as they work together to transform their lives.
Mchezo wa kuwazia ni wa kufurahisha na wenye manufaa kwa watoto katika njia nyingi tofauti. Hata hivyo, mara nyingi wazazi hawajui jinsi ya kuhimiza jambo hilo, hasa kwa kuwa watoto hupenda sana kutazama sinema. Hapa kuna faida za kucheza kwa kuwa na mawazo na pia madokezo ya jinsi ya kuingiza mchezo huo katika maisha yako ya familia! Faida za Kucheza kwa Kuwa na Mawazo Kwa nini kucheza kwa kuwa na mawazo ni muhimu sana? Sababu moja kuu ni kwamba kucheza kwa kuwa na mawazo mengi husaidia ubongo ukue kwa njia nzuri. Hasa, watoto hujifunza njia za kufikiri ambazo huathiri vizuri utendaji wa kijamii, ukuzi wa utambulisho, na kujiamini. Ikiwa mtoto anaweza kufikiria kitu, ubongo huwaka tofauti na ikiwa mtoto hutumia kitu (kwa mfano, TV, nk.). Kazi za kutafakari hujenga uhusiano wa nguvu na sehemu tofauti za ubongo ambazo zinaweza kuboresha jinsi ubongo unavyoweza kutatua matatizo, kutafsiri hali, na kuunda mawazo mapya. Hebu tuchunguze faida kadhaa za kucheza kwa mawazo: Kufikiria kwa Makali: Kucheza kwa mawazo husaidia kuendeleza ubongo wa mtoto ili uweze kutoa msingi thabiti wa kufikiri kwa makali. Uwezo huo wa kufikiri kwa njia ya kufikiri utaendelea kukua kadiri mtoto anavyoendelea kukua na hatimaye kuwa mtu mzima. Watoto huendeleza hisia ya udadisi kupitia mchezo, ambayo inaweza kuwaongoza kufikiria kwa kina zaidi na kwa kina zaidi juu ya dhana au mawazo. Ni wazi kwamba hilo hutegemea ukuzi wa mtoto, lakini kuchochea mawazo yaweza kuwa muhimu karibu na umri wowote. Utu: Mchezo wa kuwazia unamwezesha mtoto kuchunguza utambulisho tofauti na kujifunza zaidi juu yake mwenyewe. Mtoto anapopata kucheza nje ya ndoto ya kuwa mtu mwingine, jinsia nyingine, mnyama, au jukumu lingine lolote la mawazo, ana nafasi ya kuchunguza uwezekano mwingi wa wao ni nani au wanaweza kuwa. Hii pia husaidia watoto kusitawisha mapendezi yao na kile wanachopenda kufanya. Kuonyesha hisia-mwenzi: Kucheza kwa kuwa na mawazo mengi husaidia mtoto asitawishe hisia-mwenzi. Tunajua kwamba hisia-mwenzi ni muhimu sana na kwamba si sifa ambayo wanadamu huzaliwa nayo; lazima ifundishwe. Kwa kujifanya kuwa mtu mwingine, mtoto anaweza kuona ulimwengu kupitia macho mengine, na hivyo anaendeleza ujuzi huu muhimu wa kijamii na kihisia. Pia, unaweza kucheza matukio na matukio kati ya wahusika wengi, ambayo inaweza kusaidia kuelewa jinsi matukio na matukio kuathiri mahusiano na hisia. Usimamizi wa Migogoro: Mchezo wenye kuwa na mawazo mengi husaidia watoto kujifunza ustadi wa kusimamia migogoro. Watoto hawatakubaliana sikuzote wanapocheza. Mchezo wa kuwazia huwapa fursa ya kuvunja na kurekebisha mahusiano yao, kujifunza kufanya makubaliano, kujua kwamba ni sawa kutokubaliana, na kujifunza jinsi ya kujitetea. Kujipanga: Mchezo wa kubuniwa na watoto huwapa hisia ya kuwa na uwezo wa kuongoza maisha yao. Kwa ujumla, watoto hupata nguvu na udhibiti mdogo sana katika maisha yao wenyewe. Kwa kawaida wao husema ni lini na nini cha kula, ni lini kulala, ni lini kuamka, na ni wapi wanaenda. Katika mchezo wa kuwazia, watoto wanaweza kuunda ulimwengu wa kuwazia ambao wao huweza kufanya maamuzi yote! Kupata wakati, nafasi, mazingira, na fursa za kucheza kwa kuwa na mawazo yatakuwa rahisi kuliko unavyofikiri! Hapa kuna baadhi ya mambo ya kuzingatia: Kuchoshwa huwachochea kutumia akili zao na kuwa wabunifu. Njia moja ya kufanya hivyo ni kwa kupunguza muda wa skrini, kwani shughuli nyingi na skrini zinahusisha matumizi ya yaliyomo. Usiruhusu kompyuta kibao, mchezo wa video, au televisheni iwe chanzo cha burudani, bali badala yake themeza watoto wako wafanye burudani yao wenyewe kwa njia ya ubunifu. Wanadamu wameishi kwa maelfu ya miaka bila skrini, kwa hiyo kwa njia nyingi ni asili zaidi kutumia mawazo badala ya kuwa nayo <unk>kinywaji<unk> kwetu kupitia skrini. Usifanye kazi ndogo ndogo: Ondoka kando yao! Wape vitu vichache vya kuchezea (au la!) na waache wajifunze. Huna haja ya kupendekeza chochote au kuelekeza mchezo wao. Ni nani anayejua ni aina gani ya ulimwengu ambao wanaweza kuunda bila kuingiliwa na watu wazima. Unaweza kuwapata wakirekodi mandhari kutoka kwa hadithi wanayopenda... au kuunda hadithi mpya kabisa! Wakati wa nje: Weka watoto nje. Miti, vichaka, na mimea mingine inaweza kuwa vitu vya kila aina katika akili ya mtoto, kama vile mahali pa kujificha, nyumba, au ngome. Nyakati nyingine ni afadhali kuwa na mambo machache. Kuongeza ujasiri katika michezo ya watoto wetu na kuwapa fursa ya kutumia ubunifu wao kunaweza kusaidia. Jambo jingine la kushangaza ni kwamba vitu vingi vya kuchezea ambavyo tumezungumzia ni vya bei rahisi kuliko vitu vingine vya kuchezea vya hali ya juu. Hapa kuna baadhi ya vitu ninavyopenda ambavyo vinatia moyo mchezo wa kuwa na mawazo: Vipande vya ujenzi: Kwa kutumia vipande vya ujenzi, watoto wanaweza kuunda ulimwengu wowote unaowavutia! Baadhi ya vitalu ninavyopenda vinaitwa vitalu vya miti. Hizo hutengenezwa kutokana na magogo na matawi ya miti. Hizi ni kubwa kwa ajili ya kujenga nyumba gnome na makazi mengine ya ajabu. Vifaa vya asili: Vitu vya asili kama vile miamba, makombora, vijiti, maua, na mbegu ambazo unaweza kukusanya kutoka kwa matembezi na matembezi vinaweza kuwa vitu vingi sana katika mawazo ya mtoto! Kutengeneza mavazi kwa ajili ya fairies kutoka vifaa vya asili ni kweli kuvutia. Vifaa vya nguo: Ninataka sana mavazi ya hariri. Kwa kawaida ni mraba wa hariri uliotiwa rangi, kama shati la hariri. Wanaweza kutumika kuunda vitu vingi kutoka nguo za mavazi (fairy, pirate, nk) hadi waendeshaji wa wanasesere au wanyama. Kitambaa ni kubwa pia. Kutumia kitambaa cha zamani kutengeneza ngome katika bustani ya nyuma au bustani kwaweza kutoa tafrija isiyo na mwisho! "Kuwapa watoto vipande vya kitambaa vya kushona chochote wanachotaka kunaweza kuchochea ubunifu wao na kuwapa hisia nzuri ya ""kufanikiwa.""" Mavazi ya kuvaa: Kofia ya zamani, viatu vya kuchekesha, au mavazi ya bibi-arusi yaliyotupwa mbali yote hutoa furaha yenye kupendeza. Watoto wanaweza kuwa mtu yeyote wanaotaka kwa vitu vichache tu. Maduka ya vitu vya zamani ni mahali pazuri sana pa kujenga kabati la nguo! Mifuko: Mifuko ya makaratasi ya kuaminika Hakuna makala kuhusu kucheza ambayo ingekuwa kamili bila hii ya kawaida ya kusubiri! Masanduku madogo yaweza kutumiwa kwa ajili ya ujenzi au kuficha hazina. Masanduku makubwa yanaweza kugeuzwa kuwa ngome, nyumba, shule, au maduka. Kila moja ya mawazo haya inaweza kuchanganywa kwa njia tofauti ili kuunda shughuli za ajabu za kutimiza. Watoto wako watapata thamani kubwa kutoka kwa fursa ya kucheza kwa ubunifu na ingawa wanaweza kuhitaji kutiwa moyo kutoka kwako kuvunja mazoea ya skrini ya sasa, faida za kucheza kwa mawazo ni sawa. Katie Godfrey ni mtaalamu wa kujenga uhusiano wa maana na wateja wake wakati wanafanya kazi pamoja katika mazingira ya joto, yasiyo ya hukumu ambapo wateja wake wanaweza kupata huduma ya kina wakati wanafanya kazi pamoja kubadilisha maisha yao.