CHILDREN NEED MENTAL PLAY TOO

Play isn’t just running, jumping, or building with friends…

It can look like sitting still, watching quietly, or thinking through an idea no one else can see. A child observing shadows, replaying a memory, or creating a story in their head is still playing. The learning is real, even when we can’t see it.

But this kind of play often gets dismissed, says We Skoolhouse, which guides and supports parents and teachers on children’s holistic development.

We tell children to “go play” when they already are. We push them to join others before they’re ready. We assume silence means boredom or disinterest, when it’s often deep engagement.

This is especially true when it comes to onlooker play – a very normal and important stage of development. In this stage, children watch others play without joining in. They study what’s happening, listen, gather information, and begin to understand how play works socially. They might talk about what they see or ask questions, but they’re not ready to step in yet.

And that’s okay!

There is value in watching. There is value in waiting. We have to stop rushing children into group play to feel like their play is meaningful.

If we want to support real development, we need to understand all the stages of play and not just the ones that look active or social. (Source: We Skoolhouse)

Children need to engage in a diverse range of play activities. Different types of play contribute to a child’s overall well-being and learning. Imaginative play, for example, has significant benefits. When children imagine, they create mental images and scenarios requiring them to think critically and use problem-solving skills.

In the world of pretend play, children are also free to express themselves, their ideas, their emotions, and their fantastic visions of themselves, of other people, and of the world, says psychologist Sandra Russ.

Encourage free play in children, American psychologist Peter Gray advises. “Lack of free play kills the spirit and stunts mental growth.”