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Good Parenting Tips - Encourage Imaginative Play
By: Deanna Mascle
Imaginative play is an important part of childhood. Not only is
it fun for children but it is also an essential part of learning
and developing. Children learn about themselves, about their
world, and lay the groundwork for their future through
imaginative play. Yet too many children are not encouraged to
use their imagination through play. There are three essential
ways you can encourage imaginative play in your child -- by
providing the place, the time, and the supplies.
Does your child have a place for imaginative play? Is there
somewhere, even the corner of a room, where they can build a
block city or shape play dough monsters? Can they assemble all
their stuffed animals into a school or all their cars into a
parade? While children should be encouraged to pick up after
themselves sometimes it takes a while to build the city of their
dreams and they want time to play with it again. Try to strike a
balance between your need for order and their need for
imaginative play. Give them a day or so to create a complex
setting for their imaginative play before forcing them to put
away their toys.
Does your child have the time for imaginative play? It is
amazing how many young children have a very full schedule. While
many of these activities are likely required, such as school or
day care, and many are also desirable, such as sports or clubs,
it is also important that children be given the opportunity for
free, unstructured play that allows the opportunity for
imaginative play. It is not desirable that every moment of every
day be structured and planned. Children who are not given the
opportunity to exercise their imagination run the risk of losing
the ability to use it at all.
Does your child have the supplies for imaginative play? As we
know from our own childhood that imaginative play does not
require extensive and elaborate supplies, but children do need
access to objects they can use. A complex wardrobe is not
necessary but a few items can be helpful. A bath towel might be
a king's robe or a super hero's cape or swaddling for a baby. A
cardboard tube from wrapping paper might be a sword, the
container for a secret map, or a spyglass. A cardboard box might
be everything from a treasure chest to a race car. Provide a few
basic supplies and try not to be too suggestive in their use.
Children will do better if allowed to give their imagination
free rein without your interference and control.
Imaginative play can be a wonderful opportunity for your child
to not only enjoy their childhood but also to learn and grow as
people by trying on different roles such as parents, cooks,
police officers, and firefighters but also to experience safe
adventures as pirates, explorers and paleontologists.
Imaginative play should be encouraged in children by allowing
them the place, the time, and the supplies for imaginative play.
Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirecto
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