If you are a parent who takes your toddler or preschool aged child to an after school class, be it ballet, music, gymnastics, or an academic preschool, and you do so because you believe this schedule will provide the best brain-enriching experiences, you might want to re-consider. Instead, or in addition, do what you can to support your child's imaginative play by offering space, uninterrupted time, and props to enhance that play.
After taking your child to the fire station, realize that he will best absorb and make sense of the experience if he can reenact it in imaginary play. Preschoolers who spend more time in dramatic play are more advanced not only in general intellectual development, but also in their ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
Some parents seem skeptical that play, which looks to some like merely a pleasant pastime, can really be the most intellectually stimulating activity that children do. Parents need to understand that there is a big difference between how they and young children learn. For instance, if you are curious about what a doctor does in his work, you ask questions and read to gain an understanding of his occupation. Your preschooler doesn't learn as you do. After a visit to the doctor, he needs to reenact the experience. You help out by providing a doctor's kit and then just watch as your child relives through play the visit to the doctor's office. And don't be surprised if you are recruited to be the patient!
When siblings recreate a trip to Mom's office, they work together remembering what they experienced, thus building their memory. They'll pretend to use a copy machine, scanner, and laptop computer.
Other benefits of imaginative play.
Pretend play not only enhances intellectual development, but also exercises all facets of the developing child. Here's how:
- Social Ability
Children's social skills- sharing, taking turns, conversing- increase as they work out the intricacies of a play theme with friends or siblings. Also, children rise to a higher level of social ability when playing. Set up a tea party, and notice how considerate and polite each child becomes in the play scene.
It is amazing to observe. A child who seems to flirt from one activity to another will, when play imaginatively, play longer with more complex themes, be thoroughly involved and even be more cooperative than in other situations. - Emotional Strength
New feelings confuse children. By pretending to be disappointed,fearful, angry, or jealous in play, children come to manage and understand those feelings. In addition, after engaging in pretend play involving emotions, children miraculously learn to empathize with others who show those emotions. - Creativity
In the world of pretend play, children can be anyone and do anything. Predictably, children who spend lots of time engaged in such play score high on tests of imagination and creativity. - Discipline
Imaginative play even helps with discipline. You can use imaginative play to your advantage too. Having trouble getting your 3 year old to stop whining? Take a paper cup, turn it upside down, draw a face, and put a 'W' on its tummy with a slash going through it. This is the "No Whining" puppet. Once the whining starts, bring out the puppet and use a deep voice to tell how he doesn't like whining as it hurts his ears. Watch your child collect herself and interact with the puppet. - Difficult Situations
Are you moving into a new house? Will a new baby arrive at your home soon? Are you going back to work and is your child starting child care? Are you starting to teach your child to use the toilet? If so, locate a couple of dolls and use them to create scenarios that lay out the change that will occur in your child's life. Difficult childhood situations can add stress to a preschooler's life. Pretend play offers a release that can help children overcome their fears and any misunderstandings they may have.
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