SEVEN GAMES TO STIMULATE CHILDREN'S IMAGINATION AND LEARNING

Although a few years ago it was an unknown issue, we now know that the game is tremendously beneficial for our children. It's about a key aspect in its development, both cognitive and social and educational, which allows them to continue improving and growing naturally.

A context in which all kinds of specific games and toys have a place, designed not only to maximize their capacity, but also to help them discover and manage their new skills. Something key in the earliest ages and especially in the period from five to two years. And that is why we collect today Some examples that may be useful to achieve it successfully.

The importance of stimulation

Our little one needs to receive stimuli daily, to evolve at the right pace. In addition, we must bear in mind that early stimulation is more effective, basically because your brain has greater plasticity and allows the connections between neurons to occur with greater agility.

The regularity, type, quantity and quality of the stimuli is essential

Regularity, type and quantity are important, but also the adaptation to the child himself so that he can display his full potential without pressure or stress, but in a pleasant way, appropriate for your personal characteristics and rhythm, and in a fun way. But let's focus on the games themselves.

Of logic

When we talk about logic games to stimulate the imagination we are referring to those that give them the opportunity to create compositions, to invent and think. This is the case of puzzle pieces that can fit in different ways on the same drawing. Those that give rise to small, more sophisticated 3D buildings, will also force them to cope with three-dimensional concepts and to imagine the possible results.

Here also fit the word games, not too complicated, of course, and that will allow them to generate ideas, speculate and more. To get it, start by asking him for a word he knows and answer him with a related concept. For example: ball and tennis. The objective is that the child knows how to continue, thus reinforcing his vocabulary and his ability to associate ideas.

Ideas and word association games are very stimulating

Another perfect activity for those who are already five years old are the descriptions with taboo words. Choose simple objects and names, create several teams and set a time limit. He will have to figure out how to tell you what he is referring to. You can even add the mimicry to make it more fun and complete.

Of construction

Directly related to the creation and fitting pieces mentioned in the previous point, are the construction games. Of abstract figures, stackable, plastic or wood, nestable ... the options are multiple. However, all of them encourage creativity and they will stimulate your child's imagination, and even his ability to forecast.

You should think about what happens if you use certain parts during the “manufacturing” process, if these are the most appropriate to resist the final infrastructure, how will the building be, where you will enter, where the doors will be located, what fragments will serve you for the stairs and a long etcetera that you can already imagine. If they are colored they can also experiment with this issue. In fact, green roofs and red trees are not uncommon in these cases.

Plasticine and picto-games

The plasticine is a material that usually delights the youngsters of the house and that will allow them to mold the figures present in their imaginary or, failing that, look for the resemblance to reality to the figure they have finally designed. Fun and very stimulating.

Drawing something random and letting them try to guess what it is will stimulate their imagination

Picto-games are another way to encourage this creative part. A very efficient and simple system consists in drawing a more or less random figure and asking the little one to contribute ideas about what it looks like.

Guess or assign a daily image to the form of clouds It is another game that will help you develop the capacity at hand.

To the little houses or to moms and dads

Another of the classic processes in the learning of our children is imitation, especially in the early stages of their development, where they know such basic questions as how to take the spoon and so on. Later even it becomes a game. And perhaps the one with the most success is known as "Dads and Moms" or "the houses".

Here the little one takes the emulation a little further, taking us as a role model and putting ourselves in our place - a sort of empathy-. What they do is simulate from housework how to pass the mocho and clean the shelf, to others like driving. Specific toys such as cars and motorcycles are a great help for a more realistic development.

This is the case of the Chicco Fiat 500 Sports Simulator, perfect for children who want to sit in front of the wheel -in this case, electronic- and evoke known and fictional landscapes, and even risk situations where they must act as professional pilots. It has a shift lever, two pedals, a seat with three different positions and buttons to activate different sounds and driving lights. It also comes with an interactive display with two speeds.

Games in which they adopt different group roles also teach them to socialize

On the other hand, we cannot lose sight of the fact that children from two years they become much more active, a direct consequence of their greater control of motor skills and movements in general. A compendium of circumstances that give them greater independence and that allow them to focus on others. It will be time to teach them to socialize. What better way to do it with this group role play?

Miniature worlds

The game with miniature worlds, that is, the one that uses animal dolls, characters and, ultimately, toys that recreate real life objects but in small dimensions. Riding a small farm, a garage, a town where different stories take place constitute a pleasant incentive.

Even - and in the case that they do not know certain species, constructions, etc. - it is a way of becoming very natural and appropriate. Not to mention the obvious: that gives them a new knowledge through entertainment and leisure, a key aspect of learning in these ages.

Theater and costumes

We cannot stop referring to costumes and theater. Indeed, because children love to get into the skin of fictional characters and, even more, if they can disguise themselves. Ideally, you make the outfit together, although you can always help them with a few accessories from the neighborhood store.

Nothing to buy the costume, do it with what you have at home

In fact, it could be the perfect time to teach them how to sew (only the oldest and in a controlled environment). Those of monsters, on the other hand, can serve to help you face your fears.

Take advantage of Halloween and similar holidays to achieve it successfully and show them that they have nothing to fear; and try to create positive ties and bonds with this kind of costumes. Painting is another activity that they love.

To the professions

One of the classic questions that surely you have ever asked your child - or an acquaintance - is that of what do you want to be when you grow up. A question to which the answers can be tremendously varied. However, firefighter, police, train driver, airplane pilot, hairdresser, cook and doctor have endured over time.

One option, in fact, is to take them on an excursion to the fire station, ask if you can enter the cockpit, let them play between the pans with your help (and taking the necessary precautions to prevent burning or damage in general) , lend them approved scissors and assign a specific doll to the cuts and hair, and leave them cotton and other harmless tools in the kit.

Other games to stimulate the imagination

Apart from the comments, there are other games that also serve to encourage your imagination and even other motor skills and precision, such as crafts. The globoflexia and origami are fun and will also work.

Cardboard boxes can be a great source of inspiration

The cardboard boxesFinally, they can be great sources of inspiration. Drawing them, making small incisions, can turn them from cars to planes and fortresses. Another option is to organize a sort of yincana throughout the house in which they should look for different clues and objects and invent a story for each of them.

In short, a series of very varied and fun activities that will make it possible for your child to develop different abilities related to their learning and imagination. All in a fun, fun way and creating positive ties not only with different concepts, but with other people - both adults and children - involved in the game.