Episode 13 | Imaginative Play with Ben Kingston-Hughes
Jul 11, 2024
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Ben Kingston-Hughes, an international keynote speaker and multi award-winning trainer, joins Alistair Bryce-Clegg to explore the magic of imaginative play. They delve into how this form of play builds confidence and creativity in children. The importance of allowing kids to experiment with unconventional items is emphasized, as is the critical role adults play in facilitating, rather than directing, play. Practical tips for educators are shared to nurture children's imagination, ensuring they become innovative thinkers.
Imaginative play significantly nurtures cognitive development by fostering creativity and innovative problem-solving skills in children.
The role of adults in facilitating open-ended play is crucial, as it allows children to explore and develop their imaginative capabilities freely.
Deep dives
The Importance of Imaginative Play
Imaginative play is a crucial component of early childhood development that extends beyond the common perceptions of it being simply about fairies and unicorns. It involves any act of pretending, where a child or individual creatively represents something not literally true, demonstrating a form of symbolic thinking. Since imaginative play is neurologically rich, providing children with ample experiences fosters their ability to dream and innovate. Furthermore, adults play a pivotal role in nurturing this creativity by engaging in playful behaviors themselves, which helps children develop their own imaginative skills.
Fostering Imagination Through Environment and Interaction
To effectively cultivate imagination within children, it is essential to create a supportive environment that allows for exploration and open-ended play. Children benefit from spaces where they can freely experiment with loose parts and everyday objects, as these opportunities stimulate creative problem-solving skills. Additionally, the interactions they have with adults, who model imaginative play, enhance their ability to understand and engage in pretend scenarios. These dynamics not only support cognitive development but also help vulnerable children find confidence and joy in imaginative situations.
Balancing Guidance and Creativity
While structured activities can have their place in early childhood, overly prescriptive tasks may stifle a child's creativity and hinder their imaginative development. It's important for educators to balance guidance with opportunities for children to independently explore their ideas, as original thinking is vital for long-term problem-solving abilities. Encouraging a process-oriented rather than outcome-focused approach allows children to embrace creativity without the fear of failure or judgment. Ultimately, fostering creative expression and exploration will not only enrich the educational experience but also prepare children to be innovative thinkers.
Alistair Bryce-Clegg is joined by Ben Kingston-Hughes, international keynote speaker, author and multi award-winning trainer. In this episode, they discuss the transformative power of imaginative play, and its role in building confidence, fostering creativity and shaping future problem-solvers.
They highlight how encouraging children to use items unconventionally becomes a critical part of children’s development. They also stress the role of adults in facilitating rather than directing play, allowing children to experiment and create freely. This episode offers practical advice for practitioners on nurturing creativity and encouraging imaginative play, ensuring children grow up to be innovative and adaptable thinkers.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
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