Benefits of Imaginative Play Written by: Elise Sledge “Hurry! Jump on top of your couch and avoid the lava!” “Whoa… a dinosaur is sleeping in your bed. What should we do?” “If you were the ruler of a distant planet, what would you do first?” What is Imaginative Play? Imaginative play involves role-playing experiences that allow a child to safely explore alternate realities. Imaginative play can look different based on a child’s interests and culture, expressions of feelings and choices. While there are general guidelines for imaginative play, the specifics vary greatly. For example, imaginativ ..read more

COVID-19, Return to School, and Children’s Mental Health Written by: Sarah Kaufman The COVID-19 pandemic shifted many aspects of student’s daily lives. Support may be necessary to improve children’s mental health during this time. Read more to learn about how the COVID-19 Pandemic affects student mental health and discover what can be done in school and at home to support young learners. Children’s Mental Health During the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic In March of 2020 school environments quickly and radically changed. When the COVID-19 pandemic began almost all schools across the countr ..read more