The Woodlands Learningrx suggests parents make time for play: Having fun builds cognitive skills

All work and no play can literally make for a dull brain.While perhaps not as obvious as time spent in the classroom or doing homework, play can be one of the best ways for children to learn and build cognitive skills. It’s important for children to take time to play, according to Kim Bellini, owner and director of The Woodlands LearningRx.

Play is a key time for children to experiment with social roles and even learn how to create inner dialogues essential for decision-making, she said.

“But the way children play is important,” she added. “Parents should encourage their children to have fun – but when done correctly, children can have more fun and reap greater rewards.”

Bellini explained that children should spend less time watching television and playing video games and more times playing games that use memory and imagination.

“Playing make-believe is essential to help children face challenging tasks,” Bellini said. “It encourages concentration, problem-solving and following tasks -- but parents rarely encourage their children to spend time ‘playing pretend.’”

Bellini suggests that parents reverse this trend by:

1. Simon Says: Simon Says is a game that requires children to listen and behave. You have to think and not do something, which requires complex processing skills. “Several of the classic, simple games are truly beneficial for young minds,” Bellini added.

2. Imaginative play: Help children come up with scenarios that will keep them at play for long periods of time, at least a half-hour. If it lasts for hours, that is even better, Bellini said. Sometimes it helps to assemble props. Symbolic props require even more use of the imagination. Find things around the house and show children how these items can stand-in for more realistic props.

3. Activities that require planning: Games that require children to read and follow directions are helpful in building cognitive skills, Bellini explained. The same is true for following a recipe or a pattern for sewing or a craft project. “Ask children to help out with a complex craft or in the kitchen,” Bellini said. “This will also help them practice their reading skills.”

4. Play involving reading. Reading with children promotes the development of language – and also opens up whole worlds of play. Children can act out stories in imaginary theaters, write their own make-believe game scenarios based on a book or create their own alternative endings to a story.

5. Learning to play alone. Children can learn to play imaginary games even when there are no other playmates around. An imaginary friend can help a child make it through a rainy, boring day. “Encourage children to engage their imaginations, while drawing, writing, reading and playing alone,” Bellini said.

Bellini stressed that the most important thing about play is that it must remain fun.

“When children enjoy what they are doing, it makes learning easy,” she said. “Play is a rewarding activity. It’s something children want to do. So if they are building skills at the same time, it’s a snap.”

Play also helps children realize their unique personalities – and discover what interests them. “Children might find a lifelong passion while playing make-believe,” Bellini said. “Pretending to be a chemist might lead to a career in the subject.”

Finding fun ways to build cognitive skills is a central component of The Woodlands LearningRx. The unique one-on-one training at LearningRx transforms a student’s ability to learn at a core level. To learn more about The Woodlands LearningRx, visit www.learningrx.com/the-woodlands.