But today, as a parent, I turn my attention towards my children and find great joy in watching them revel in anticipation of Santa and the presents under the tree. 

As a psychologist, one of my goals is to help clients bring their life back into balance.

However, this Christmas, my children are reminding me of a strategy that not only allows people to feel more balanced but helps them to get in touch with their true, authentic selves.  

The strategy that my fantastic five-year-old twins are reminding me of is the value of play, and the role that fun has in reducing stress and bringing me back to my true self. 

Winnicott and the Power of Play

Donald Winnicott (1896-1971) was a child psychiatrist who talked about the concept of True self versus False self. He says that everybody is born with a True Self – the happy, innocent, problem-free, creative, curious, and playful human qualities that are most evident in childhood. 

Over time, though, as the child gets older and becomes an adult, the child loses connection with their True Self. What then emerges is a False Self. The False Self is the part that’s often associated with being orderly, mannerly, proper, and behaving in ways that will help the person fit into society. 

What’s important to remember is that the role of the False Self is to protect the True Self. The False Self emerges to help the child (or adult) cope with their environment. 

A person’s True Self never goes away. It only remains hidden and covered up by the False Self. 

Play Exposes the True Self   

Winnicott strongly believed that when an adult engages in any activity that resembles play, it helps the adult reconnect with their true, authentic self. In other words, the True Self emerges when we find activities that allow us to have fun.

Whether it’s engaging in physical activity (such as playing a sport, participating in fitness classes), being creative (painting, drawing, writing, listening to music, singing backup vocals to your favourite tune), hanging out with friends, or playing board games. Any different activities that remove you from your day-to-day world can help you to connect with your authentic self. 

When you spend time connecting and having fun with your children (whether they are two years old or 30-years old), you bring yourself back down to a younger level, which helps you reconnect with your True Self.

And when you spend time playing and doing activities that bring a sense of enjoyment and pleasure to your life, you are reducing stress and bringing yourself back into a more balanced state. 

I hope your Christmas and the holiday season allow you to laugh and play and provide you with an opportunity to reconnect with your True Self. 

The post De-stress through the power of play appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

It’s all about imaginative play; some call it open-end play. Sounds too simple to be true? Here are steps to increase imaginative play so you reap the benefits.

Why imaginative play is so important?

Imaginative or open-ended play builds social, emotional, and cognitive skills in kids. Playing in pretend worlds allow kids to explore situations and emotions that may be stressful in real life. Yet in a pretend world, these stresses and emotions are easier to deal with. My daughter and niece regularly played a game where they encountered catastrophic natural disasters (Hint: they always survived). It was their way of dealing with fears and conquering them. Imaginative play allows kids to work through problems and find solutions on their terms.

Another major benefit of imaginative play is the development of language and social skills. Working out how to play with other kids or siblings is all part of social and emotional development. Fighting off villains in a castle or planning a trip to Mars requires communicating and negotiating social roles; these are core areas of child development.

What is imaginative play exactly?

Imaginative play is when children create a world or a situation out of their own volition. It could be camping in the wild, driving a race car, sailing on a pirate ship, or storming a castle. Kids don’t need much to create their imaginative worlds but sometimes they need to be shown the way.

A child’s imagination is like a muscle and if it isn’t used regularly, it needs to be put back into shape

How to introduce an imaginative game?‍

The most important thing is to provide an environment that fosters imagination. Put away electronics and set the scene. This could mean building a fort with couch cushions, or a play couch, then bringing out costumes to dress up in. Perhaps play some music but don’t introduce screens (iPads, etc.) into the game. ‍‍‍

How to begin using the imaginative muscle:

1. Introduce an imaginative game by encouraging your child to dress up like a character. It may just mean a hat or a cape – something simple.
2. Ask your child what adventure you are on: Are you searching for a lost treasure? Is there a storm approaching? What challenge is ahead?
3. Ask your child open-ended questions about the environment that they’re in. Who’s with them? What’s the weather like? What country are they in?
4. Begin to play! Act out the scene and interact with your child. You’ll be surprised how creative they are and how much fun they’re having.

At first, you may have to play with your child and guide them, but as time goes on children will become more independent.

If a child isn’t used to stretching their imagination, it may take time for their creativity to shine. Make sure to bring your patience and a fun attitude; it’ll be worth it in the end and the benefits are so important for your child’s development.

Let me know how you progress with imaginative play. You can tag us @mypuffinco or visit our site at www.mypuffin.ca.

The post The Lost Art of Imaginative Play: Why It’s Important appeared first on TWINS Magazine.