Many open-ended toys, such as dolls, blocks, and puppets lead children naturally into creative play. Children can get the most out of play when they are encouraged to bring their own ideas, thoughts, and feelings to those open-ended toys, and when we offer them plenty of time and freedom to interact with the toys. When children know that adults value their creative play, they will be better able to transfer their creative ability to other areas, such as reading, writing, art, and even to social interactions, like problem-solving.

Play Leads to Symbolic Thinking

Children's imaginations can soar when they are encouraged to turn everyday objects into exciting props and playthings. When you suggest that children use props in their play, you are helping them develop thinking and creative problem-solving skills that can be transferred to everyday life.

Using a prop to represent something also helps children with the foundation for reading, a skill that requires symbolic thinking. For reading, they'll need to understand that a circle is a symbol that stands for the letter "o" and certain sounds, and the letters D-O-G represent a word that stands for the animal called a dog.

Problem Solving

When we watch children play, we get particular pleasure from seeing them use whatever they have to play with in unexpected ways. A child who uses an empty wrapping paper tube as a tunnel for little cars to go through...or a towel for a teddy bear's blanket is a creative child, a discoverer, and a problem-solver. Playtime in childhood can be the root of lifelong abilities that help us to cope, to learn, and to become all that we can be.

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