Imagination & Play

Imagination and play are essential for developing intelligence and coping skills. The world’s most prominent scientists and inventors often had a great imagination. Leonardo da Vinci most probably would not have invented the ornitoper (an early version of an airplane) if he had not developed his imagination. Imagining new possibilities is an important aspect of human thinking. Every invention from the wheel to language was conceived through imagination. Picturing new possibilities leads to new thoughts and feelings which consequently leads to new behaviour. Imagination helps develop expectations and predictions about the world. Without imagination anticipating is difficult. A child can discover the world in its first year of life with the help of its imagination. After a period of attachment a child dares to explore and distance itself from its mother. To feel safe it can imagine that its mother is present.

Playing is important for children to develop good coping skills. When playing the consequences are different to in the real world (for example if a child pushes over a lego building at home it’s not a problem but pushing over a pile of cans in a supermarket is.) Within the setting of a game the child creates a safe zone in which it can experiment and make mistakes.

A special sort of game is role playing. When taking on a role a child can experiment with behaviour. This is a good way to overcome social fears and develop new coping skills. For example, a shy child who is allowed to play the role of the boss learns skills associated with that role.

(Source: CIVAS child coaching)