Imaginative Play is the Antidote: How to foster children's creativity, sense of agency, and emotional processing through play

When was the last time you let your imagination take the wheel? As kids, our imagination created endless possibilities. An old blanket was a superhero cape. Pots and pans? A full on drum set! Imagination has the power to make the “ordinary” novel and exciting. In the wake of an increasingly digital age, however, many wonder, does imaginative play still hold the same space in children’s lives? Hear from Dr. Laura Rubin, founder of Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center, about how imaginative play helps children process emotional experiences, build executive function skills, foster creativity, and more. She also shares how parents, caregivers, and educators can support their child's imaginative instincts.

For more on imaginative play and children’s mental health, check out the following resources:

• Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center: https://www.portsmouthneuro.com/
• The Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/
• How Re-Framing Our Experiences Can Contribute to Our Well-Being by Dr. Laura Rubin, TEDxPortsmouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqpQ0iHBRSQ&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
• Make-Believe: Games & Activities for Imaginative Play By Dorothy G. Singer and Jerome L. Singer: https://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/4417173