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The Importance of Creative Play for Children

Posted by Brian Semling on Apr 6th 2018

Creative play is what children do best! Toys or objects that spark a child’s imagination and encourages creative expression are perfect for creative play—including Strictly Briks.

Whether they’re creating a crayon masterpiece, building cities with blocks, or having fun in a make believe land made of pillows and blankets, creative play is beneficial for development and skill learning.

Creative play is a right of every child

Did you know that creative play is considered so important that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child? Encouraging creative play within your home can be fun and educational while giving your child the tools to become a creative thinker.

Creative play helps build up a child’s self esteem. As children work together and create scenes, they will solve social problems or feelings that are troubling them. Children have a natural knack for creating plot lines and problems (a character gets lost or bad guys are after the main hero), and by creating these issues they must creatively solve them. As the child “conquers” each scenario, he or she builds more confidence in himself/herself and gains problem solving skills.

Creative play also has intellectual benefits. As children create masterpieces while making crafts, they will have to ask themselves tough questions: “do I have to put more glue on this piece to make it stick?” “If I cut out a square here, will it fit into this space correctly?” “If I only have red and blue paint, but I want purple, how can I get purple?” As children discover the answers to these questions through trial and error, they will develop stronger problem solving skills, spatial skills, and 3D modeling skills.

There are physical benefits to creative play. Children running around pretending to be cops or cheetahs get their daily exercise in, but fitness is not the only physical benefit! Cutting, pasting, drawing, coloring, and painting all require different motor skills. Children will learn to control their movements while coloring to stay in the lines, or if they want to make a thicker or thinner stroke of a paint brush.

Creative play builds a child’s emotional development

Creative play can even promote emotional expression. As children play and create, they may become happy with their creation, frustrated with unexpected results from their creation, or may have to act out certain emotions when role playing. Play can teach children how to respond appropriately when feeling an emotion, and play can encourage children to communicate and socialize with other kids, too. Creative play acts as a safe and appropriate way for children to express their emotions alone or together.

According to Kenneth R. Ginsburg and the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, “When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.”

Strictly Briks believes in equipping children to not only be the greatest and smartest they can be, but to do it creatively based on individualistic preference. Our toys are made with children’s intellectual, social, and emotional well-being in mind. We strive to create toys that benefit children in ranging stages of their childhood, so they can always practice being their best. We encourage your children to keep on Dreaming, Creating, and Growing through creative play and Strictly Briks!