Playtime: How Art and Stories Shape Minds

In childhood development, play is not merely a break from learning; it is the stage where the most profound learning occurs. Through the playful acts of singing, painting, and dancing, children express their earlier understanding of the world and their place within it. It’s no surprise how naturally it comes to us, that before we learn anything else, we can play. Imaginary friends, make-believe, and hide-and-seek are all almost instinctive to a child. And how naturally the joy flows during playtime, is endearing.

The landscape of art and music education is facing a challenging era, with significant funding cuts across the world. In the US, the presence of arts education in public schools has seen a marked decline since the early 2000s, while the UK has contemplated halving arts higher education funding in recent years. In England, we face a “creativity crisis,” with a significant drop in the number of creative arts students and teachers over the past decade (1).

A survey by the Association of School and College Leaders revealed that 72% of leaders reported cutting creative subjects from their curriculum (2). These reductions not only diminish the richness of cultural education but also overlook the arts’ contribution to cognitive development and student engagement. As the arts face undervaluation, the importance of play, imagination, and creativity in nurturing human potential cannot be overstated. Yet, the increasing demands on children’s schedules leave little room for such essential activities. It’s a stark reminder that sidelining the arts risks losing the creativity that should define our youth and shape our future.

Now stop everything and just imagine a world where learning isn’t just sitting and listening, but singing at the top of your lungs, painting with fingers, engaging with stories, and dancing like nobody’s watching.

The Joy of Playful Learning

Art and stories provide a canvas for children to project their inner worlds. When a child grips a paintbrush, they are not just splashing colours on paper; they are learning to control their movements, recognize patterns, and express emotions. Similarly, when they lose themselves in a story, they are not just following a narrative; they are walking in someone else’s shoes, developing empathy, and expanding their understanding of different ways to live and be.

When kids play, they’re not just having fun - they’re becoming mighty problem-solvers and emotional ninjas. They’re learning the art of being human, and that’s a masterpiece in progress.

Crafting Time for Creativity

In our structured world, it is crucial to carve out time, develop skills, and create spaces that encourage children to engage in art and storytelling. As a village that is helping to raise the next generation - we must recognize the importance of these activities not as extracurricular. When we created Storytime , reading for fun was—and continues to be—our mission. Before we learn from stories, we must be entertained. We aimed to engage readers through joy, and it remains at the forefront of our readers’ feedback as the reason why they love our content. While ‘Edutainment’ might be a buzzword right now, it has merit: we do learn better when we are having fun!

Our busy world spins fast, but let’s press pause and make room for magic. Let’s build sandcastles in the living room and read tales that transport us to other worlds. It’s not just fun—it’s the fertile soil where we allow children to flourish into all the possibilities of who they want to be. Engagement in art and stories builds more than just creativity. It fosters wellbeing and mental resilience, equipping children with the tools to face life’s challenges. Through play, they learn to problem-solve, to handle emotions, and to navigate social dynamics. These are the skills that allow individuals to flourish, to adapt, and to find joy even in adversity. Like solving puzzles – the ones we often we find ourselves stuck with later in life.

Keeping the Spark Alive

Even as grown-ups, let’s not forget the power of play. It’s the secret ingredient in the recipe for innovation and happiness. So, when was the last time you played? As we champion the cause of play in childhood, let’s also sneak it into our grown-up lives. Believe it or not, playing might just be the most grown-up thing we can do. And how to keep the play alive as an adult? Ah, that’s a tale for another day.

Data source: (1: https://theconversation.com/arts-education-is-facing-massive-cuts-yet-its-value-is-felt-everywhere-160844 2: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/art-teaching-in-decline-in-our-schools)