Promoting Healthy Brain Development Through Playful Exploration
Summertime—ripe with color, warmth, and movement—all but begs children to come out and play. A muddy puddle welcomes a spirited splash. A bird’s nest calls out for close observation. A garden bed invites curious digging. Children are hardwired to answer these calls; it’s up to us as parents to make the time for them to answer.
As an educational consultant, I’ve worked with many children whose parents struggle to see the complex value in play, viewing it as purely recreational or worse— as the enemy of productivity. How could play be educational? Play is certainly enjoyable by definition, but that’s just one of its facets. If you struggle to see the value in play (no judgment!), we would love for you to consider a mindset shift: Play is simply the vehicle. Kids use play to build crucial cognitive functions that will serve them throughout adolescence and into adulthood. One of those is self-regulation.
If you have a toddler at home, you already know how important it is for a child to be able to self-regulate. Dysregulation can take many forms, ranging from impulsivity and aggression to total shutdown. A child’s developing brain needs time to build the neural pathways that allow for healthy emotional expression, resilience, and frustration tolerance. One of the best ways to develop self-regulation? You guessed it— play.
Psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, one of the most respected voices in modern parenting, revealed in a Lovevery podcast that parents can leverage role play and pretend play to help a dysregulated child find calm, strengthening parts of the brain that will eventually enable self-regulation. According to Dr. Kennedy, “Play is a world that’s kind of close enough to a kid’s world, but also just far enough away that kids feel safe enough to explore in new ways, and that’s how we learn— by exploring.” And it is within that comfortably-distant world of play and exploration that children’s brains are able to do what they do best— grow and change.
According to developmental psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld, “play is the original school.” By engaging in play, which children are innately drawn to, neuroplasticity is activated in the brain. Put simply, that is the brain’s ability to be flexible in both thinking and action. Unstructured, child-led play spurs meaningful growth and change in developing brains. That alone makes a compelling case for prioritizing play, so let’s get to it with some actionable steps.
1. Select Open-Ended Toys.
Toys inspire play, but are all toys created equal? Not particularly. Surely, you’ve seen toy companies make bold claims about how educational their products are, but this is often just clever marketing, as claims in this industry are largely unregulated.
If you’re looking for educational toys, we recommend opting for open-ended toys, which can be used in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes. Open-ended toys engage different areas of the brain and inspire prolonged, focused play. For example, LEGO sets give children practice with following directions and reading manuals, figures and themed builds can prompt imaginative play, and loose LEGO bricks can be transformed into just about anything. (Have you seen LEGO Masters?!) As a bonus, open-ended toys will grow with your children over time, fueling creativity, promoting exploration, and activating neuroplasticity. Three of our current favorites are:
For a comprehensive list of favorites organized by age, check out our freebie, available for download here. Or if you’re ready to #AddToCart, visit our Amazon Storefront here for some ideas. And remember, part of the beauty of open-ended toys is that they are precisely that — open to interpretation. (Think Roxaboxen!) Sometimes the most inspiring materials for play can be found in our own backyards.
2. Resist The Urge To Overschedule.
Just as developing brains require rest, they require flexible time for play. In this age of distraction and overscheduling, it can feel especially difficult to prioritize free time. However, it becomes somewhat easier when we recognize play as a necessary part of childhood development. A basic need, even.
Let us challenge you to politely decline at least one invitation this week and instead, leave that time free for your child (and maybe even your inner-child!) to play. After all, adult brains who continue to engage in play are much more capable of maintaining neuroplasticity. So don’t hesitate to join in the fun by trying something new, creative, or maybe even a bit silly. It’s good for you!
While some days are busier than others, we recommend aiming for at least 30 minutes a day of child-led play. Think of it as exercise for little bodies and brains.
3. Take It Outside.
Try this exercise: Close your eyes for a moment and call to mind your childhood. You may see flashes of the house you grew up in, your bedroom, your favorite lovey, or your neighborhood street. Now try to isolate one specific, happy memory from your youth. Really try to see it and experience that joy all over again. Now tell us— did that memory take place outside?
Abundant research proves nature exploration reduces stress levels, nurtures creativity, fuels physical activity, and even improves sleep. It’s no wonder some of our happiest memories were made outside.
Need a push to venture out? Find inspiration in a book. Our latest favorites can be found in The Sandbox, our summer reading program. More of our favorite picks can be found on social— check us out at @beccasbookbox.
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This season, we encourage all of our Becca’s Book Box families to heed the call of Summer. Go on that post-dinner nature walk. Help your child weave that flower crown. Let your littles make mud pies and hey, maybe even join in. Moments like these are so much more than fun or brain-building. They’re childhood at its very best.
Here’s to a season of play, exploration, and learning. Happy Summer!
Written by Stef McGuffey and Becca Thiemann
