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Child's Play: Cultivating Creativity
By Megan Risley
We know that young children learn through play and that learning begins at birth. Introducing children to experiences that provide learning opportunities early in their lives can help them develop skills to help them grow. Through play, children develop cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills they need to grow and develop. Play also helps children cultivate creativity, uniqueness and imagination. Creative play allows for self-expression and self-confidence, and the development of social and problem-solving skills.
How is play important in a child's early learning process? Through the repetition of physical skills in play, children can enhance their physical skills and development. Play offers new ways of thinking and problem solving, and encourages children to look at challenges in a variety of ways; all of which enhance mental development. Social development is enhanced through play when children interact with others. It allows them to acquire social skills and to appreciate different values and perspectives. Emotional development is enhanced through play because play allows children to express their thoughts and feelings. Their unique personalities and their individual styles of expression both emerge through play time. Play allows for a child's imagination and creativity to develop.
How can parents cultivate imagination and creativity in their child's play? Parents can cultivate imagination and creativity in their child's play by providing toys that allow for exploration and creativity. Classic, non-electronic toys and those that are not media-based (television, video games, computer games) are very powerful in engaging children's creativity. Toys of this nature encourage participation and cooperation, stimulate learning, and encourage social interaction allowing parents to have an active role in their child's play time and learning process. Non-electronic toys are generally unstructured and do not have rules. They are open-ended in that either your child can lead you through activities or you can lead them.
Some final tips on incorporating creativity in children's play: Practice giving positive feedback and asking your child questions. Encourage your child to come up with more than one solution, and let them know that there is "no one right answer". Encourage cooperation and problem solving. Allow for time for free play. Try to avoid toys that leave nothing to the imagination and provide children with a good range and balance of toys. It is through all these different play experiences that children develop the many skills that they will need in life, such as independence, resourcefulness and competence.
About the Author
The concept of Batteries Not Required interactive play quilts was designed by Megan Risley and her friend, Minna. Now with Megan as the sole owner and designer, Batteries continues to grow all over Durham, NC and the Internet. Our products are based on the concept that children should use their imagination when playing, something that is sometimes lost on today's games that typically need batteries to operate. Our quilts are fun and provide an early start to children's learning processes.
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