by Lynne Jablonski

Created on: June 02, 2010

To create independent play skills, children need to be allowed to develop their imaginative tools at an early age. They need to be shielded from excessive television, to have access to materials and toys that spark their interests, and to be allowed to make messes in pursuit of creating the world in their minds eye. They also need the participation of a loving adult early on, to ensure healthy separation and independence later on in their childhood play.

As Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” A child’s innate sense of play is developed at an early age. Television, applied liberally, is the death of easy independent play. The more a child is exposed to non-participatory entertainment, the less likely they are to develop the necessary skills to entertain themselves. By the time they get a little older and their parents start to expect them to be more independent, they don’t have the tools they need to play by themselves easily and independent play becomes more of a chore than a joy. Television also imprints upon their young minds images of storybook characters that will forever replace the ones they would have created on their own if they had been read a book or told a story. Try, for example, to create your own image of Snow White after having seen the Disney version.

Unfortunately for the children of today, many parents find it easier to turn on the television, and later on the computer, as they try to keep their children “busy.” What parents often forget is that they, or their child’s caregiver, are role models. Children should be allowed to live alongside their adult counterparts, watching them interact and copying them as they start establishing their play habits. A child’s first play is often imitating the adults in their life, adult pursuits applied with a child-like mind. Early toys are often (safe) adult items such as wooden spoons, pots and pans, plastic containers, and car keys.

As a child grows they have an early instinct to “help” as they join in the adult work of vacuuming or cooking. Because this slows down the adult, toddlers and preschoolers are often removed from these chores, but they should be encouraged to help as there is rich work being done in the mind as they work alongside the adults. Allowing a young child to peel carrots or chop celery with a butter knife (with supervision, of course) will be satisfying play for them and make them more

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>