Reach Out and Read The Case for Make Believe
Jan 19, 2023
Dr. Susan Linn, a psychologist, award-winning ventriloquist, and author, explores the deep importance of play in child development. She explains how creative play enables children to process emotions and learn foundational skills. Delving into the impact of commercial toys, Susan contrasts enriching open-ended toys with those that stifle imagination. She advocates for the value of boredom and independent play, discussing her ventriloquy work with puppets like Audrey Duck, and underscores that play is vital for both children and adults.
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Play As A Survival Tool
- Creative play is a foundation for learning, problem-solving, and making life meaningful.
- Susan Linn says play gives children access to their inner world and helps them master overwhelming experiences.
When Toys Do Too Much
- Popular toys often limit imagination with preset scripts or built-in actions.
- Susan Linn argues these toys are mostly toy and leave little work for the child, reducing creative play.
Pick Open-Ended Toys
- Choose toys that can be used in many different ways and invite transformation by the child.
- Prefer open-ended objects that "just lie there" until a child picks them up and imagines purpose.
