Did you know that play, improvisation, in particular, can help children learn in many different ways?
If you’ve been around here for a while, you probably know that I’m really big on imaginative, screen-free play for kids and adults alike.
This is part of the reason I created a handmade business that promotes expressing your playful side.
Not only is it fun for me to create each character and give them a name and a story, but it also gives me great joy to pass on my art to little ones who can wear them – or use them as a puppet or costume in their play.
But what does improvisation have to do with this?
Why Is Improvisation Important For Children?
According to Drama Kids international, “improv can help children learn in many different ways, including having a mutual respect for others and their ideas and building confidence.”
When children learn to read physical cues and emotions from their playmates, they are learning social skills and how to interact with others.
How Does Improvisation Work?
Improv is a form of play in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game or story are made up in the moment.
When you sit back and observe children playing together, this is improvisation at its most natural form.
They make up decisions about what happens next as they go based on feedback from the other players. It is completely spontaneous.
What Are The Three Parts Of An Improvisation?
Improv is not completely without structure, however. The scene and characters must be decided upon. When I did home daycare my group usually played with their dolls. There was usually quite the discussion to determine who would be the mommy and who would be the dad.
Just like any good story, the three parts consist of a beginning such as setting the scene, a middle where the characters interact and play – maybe even a bit of conflict, and the end.
As you can see, with or without props, improvisation is an important part of children’s development. It teaches them to navigate social situations and interact appropriately with each other.
If you are looking for a prop to promote their play, check out our hats to inspire the next character they will become.
“Improvisation is the power of spontaneous observation.”
Wyatt Pringle
