The benefits of play time for children are well documented in academic journals, Healthy Children, an American Pediatric Association's magazine, and by professional educators. Playtime is learning: cognitive development, social skills, language learning, problem solving, the list goes on; not to mention exercise and stress relief.
Technology toys that do all the talking and entertaining are actually diminishing language development and active play. Verbal interactions expand communication and vocabulary while listening to a device negates an opportunity for reciprocal responses. Screen play does increase memory, however watching entertainment is not the same brain use as pretending during playtime.
To promote play time keep an assortment of toys in a basket or box readily available. With imagination and creativity items such as hats, baby dolls, cars, play food, fabric, and a bed sheet can become robes for royalty, super hero capes, or even a splendid tent. Prefer messless fun, four year olds love interactive games like I-Spy and Simon Says. Have an active learner on your hands? Turn up the music, get moving and learn to dance try the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Cha Cha Slide, or do Freestyle Dance and then shout freeze! Overall, children learn best by doing.
Book suggestions to inspire play time, read, or act out a story.
2021 Books-
A little girl and a refrigerator box go on many adventures as they imagine all the things they can be in this debut picture book from Kim Howard and Megan Lotter.
"Bestselling author Jacky Davis and award-winning illustrator Fiona Woodcock celebrate family, love, and imagination in this vibrant and expressive picture book. Father-daughter time shines in this irrestible story about creativity, solving problems, and looking on the bright side when faced with obstacles. A great read-aloud for rainy days...or any day your stuck at home!" Goodreads. Sunny-Side Up.
Davis also authored the Ladybug Girl Series.
2020 Books-
How to be a Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald.
"CeCe dreams of being a pirate. When the neighborhood boys tell her that she can't, she wonders where to begin. Luckily, she suspects her grandpa must know something about being a pirate-why else would he have all those tattoos? Cece discovers the most important thing you can do is, BE YOURSELF!" Goodreads.
"Perfect for families with new babies. First came the boxes, then the baby. Then the loud, nonstop crying! Desperate to get away, new big sister Cassie climbs into one of the empty boxes and sets off. She drives, she sails, and she soars...but she still hears whimpers. How far will Cassie have to go to finally get some peace and quiet?" Goodreads.
"Can a pirate and a princess learn to share? In The Fort in the woods, a prince is preparing his castle for a livley feast for the royal kingdom. Unbeknowst to him, a pirate uses the fort as her ship, planning to venture out to the open seas in search of treasure. Soon, a battle over the fort between the adversaries ensues, leading to a humorous showdown." Goodreads.
Why not enjoy dress up all year long! Don't wait for Halloween. "Big Brown Bear and four little bears can's wait to dress up for Halloween. Everyone is grabbing costumes from the box." Goodreads.
"A STEAM-centered, adorably illustrated picture book about Meg, a brilliant and creative boxitect who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes." Goodreads.
Boxitects has a life lesson on teamwork.
Books below feature imagination and play -
*click images to place a hold in the library catalog
