Bellamys Organic. Understanding your child’s imaginative play

Child Hand-Eye Coordination

You may have seen my post on Facebook a few weeks ago. Embarrassing Mummy Moments: I had rushed my daughter through getting ready for a birthday party that morning to find, on arrival, I had the dates mixed up and we were a week early!

I felt a mix of amusement at myself and “uh oh – how will I explain myself? I hope she doesn’t hate me!!” I apologised profusely to my darling fairy who seemed remarkably tolerant of my error. As we drove in the direction of home, I worried about whether she was really ok about it.

After a few minutes I tuned into the conversation between the two Little Ponies in her lap. Apparently one was explaining to the other why the party was off, “…Mum thought it was today but it’s not.”

I felt instant relief, for she understood what had happened and was able to relate to it in her own words.

Imaginative play is a powerful tool for children coming to terms with anything from day to day issues or troubles at school to troubles at home and it is an invaluable indicator to parents as to how their child is coping and growing. This is especially true when he or she does not respond willingly to being questioned directly, even when done gently.

Imaginative play might display:

Re-enactment of scenes from movies and books
Imitation of parents doing household chores
Interpretation of family adjustments
Understanding of school yard social dynamics
Processing of confusing feelings of anger, loss, or fear

Take a few minutes now and then to discreetly “listen in” on your child when they are absorbed in play if you are concerned something might be troubling them.

Aside from the emotional development, imaginative play is an ideal time for children to test new phrases and words. I have heard my daughter use wonderful sentences in her play before she uses them openly with me.

Social skills, etiquette, manners, are all tested in dolls houses and between teddies.

Treat their play as completely normal, don’t laugh at or tease your child if you overhear them pretending. It’s important they have all the encouragement possible. My outtake is that children learn more when they use their imagination to “create” their own play situations rather than something that “directs” their play.

So here are a few ways you can equip your house to stimulate imaginative play at home:

Dress-up boxes are fantastic for pretending and make believe (any crazy costumes from parties all end up in the dress up box!)
A tub of little boxes, empty toilet rolls, sticky tape, paddlepop sticks, paper and fabric scraps for making things like boats, cars, houses, grocery items, etc (our Pinkies and Toothiepegs boxes work well!!)
Paper and crayons, coloured pencils for drawing what is on their minds
Music, dancing and signing all channel feelings and energy and creativity
Empty (clean) containers from food make excellent pretend supermarket outings (and ideal for keeping in their minds the healthy foods you want them to choose!)

This morning she was making sure her fairy figurines went to the toilet and brushed their teeth. It’s a lengthy process to be out the door some days, but it means she is also learning to self manage, and that’s very cool.

If you’d like to know more about Bellamy’s Organic baby products click on this link. It will take you straight to our on-line store http://www.bellamysorganic.com.au/catalogue

Find out more:

http://tlcinstitute.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/expressive-arts-after-a-disaster/

http://www.brainy-child.com/article/imaginative-play.shtml