By Starr Denison, MS, LPC, NCC
Imaginative play helps to develop executive function which is listed as a critical cognitive skill relating to the ability to self-regulate leading to controlling one’s own behavior, impulses, and emotions (Spiegel, 2008). Currently, self-regulation in children has been declining. According to Spiegel (2008), increasing dropout rates, crime and drug use are all consequences of poor executive function.
Because children are not allowed to play as before, with time being replaced by standardized learning, researchers are finding that children are far less developed cognitively and emotionally as in the past (Spiegel, 2008).
Cognitive growth can be sped up when children are allowed to “discover inconsistencies and errors in their own thinking” (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2014, p. 131) by making mistakes. Children develop cognitively by doing according to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development (p. 131). Play allows for the possibility of making mistakes, of interconnecting with others, learning from others, enhances creativity, and allows for self-regulation to develop.
“Emotion is at the core of internal and interpersonal processes that create our subjective experience of the self” (Siegel, 2012, p. 181). Emotional regulation is tied to a person’s ability to organize and adapt to new experiences. Imaginative play promotes emotional regulation. I believe as a society we need to come to the realization that play is just as important as math, English, and science in the development of our children. As Spiegel (2008) suggested, we have eliminated an activity that may help children the most.
I particularly like the game ideas from an NPR article: Simon Says; Complex Imaginative Play (acting out scenarios); Activities that Require Planning; Joint Storybook Reading; Encourage Children to Talk to Themselves. I recall doing all of these as a child, long before electronics took over our minds. I truly felt playing outside helped me the most, connecting with nature, animals, and friends; learning from them all. Even as adults, play games such as hungry human hippos, mudslinging games, or some other shenanigans to help us all bring out the kids in us once again!
References
Kail, R. and Cavanaugh, J. (2014) Human development: A life-span view. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Siegel, D. (2012) The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are. New York, NY: The Guilford Press
Spiegel, A. (2008) “Old Fashioned Play”. Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514