The 5 Types of Play That Make Kids Smarter

The 5 Types of Play That Make Kids Smarter

Written by: Pascal

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Published on

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Time to read 13 min

Introduction

Early elementary-aged children are bursting with energy and curiosity. As a parent, you’ve probably noticed that playtime is when your child’s mind truly lights up . And it’s not just fun and games, research shows play is crucial for brain development . In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics even calls play “essential” to building 21st-century skills and buffering stress (Mayo Clinic News Network, 2023). By encouraging different screen-free types of play , you can boost your school kids cognitive abilities and emotional well-being at the same time. Play isn’t a break from learning, it’s how children learn best.


Below, we introduce five enriching types of play that are proven to help kids grow smarter and more resilient. For each, we’ll explain the science-backed benefits and give you easy, actionable tips to fit these play activities into your family’s routine. Let’s jump in and discover how to nurture your child’s development through play.

Kid playing with kite

1. Physical Play (Active Outdoor Games)

Running, jumping, climbing trees - physical play is more than just a way to tire out energetic kids. Active play has powerful effects on the developing brain. Studies have found that aerobic exercise and free play improve children’s “executive function” , the mental skills for self-control, flexible thinking, and memory (Best, 2010). In one study, 7- to 9-year-olds who engaged in regular physical play showed better attention and cognitive flexibility than those who didn’t (University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2023). Moving their bodies helps kids focus their minds . Exercise also triggers the release of mood-boosting chemicals, reducing stress and anxiety in children. In short, active play makes for healthier, happier brains .


Why it works: When kids play tag or ride bikes, they’re not only strengthening muscles, they’re also strengthening neural connections . Physical play increases blood flow to the brain and encourages the growth of new brain cells, especially in areas responsible for memory and planning. It also often involves learning rules or strategies (like in sports or group games), which can improve children’s impulse control and teamwork skills. Plus, active play often happens outdoors, giving kids a dose of vitamin D and fresh air, which further boosts mood and brain health.


How to encourage active play:

  • Play sports for fun:
    Shoot hoops in the driveway, kick around a soccer ball, or try jump-rope challenges. Emphasize fun over competition so kids of all skill levels feel motivated to play.

  • Make it a family routine: 
    Take a nightly after-dinner walk or a weekend bike ride together. Your involvement shows that you value being active, and it’s quality bonding time.

  • Turn indoors into play zones:
    On rainy days, have a living room dance party or set up an indoor obstacle course with pillows. Even 10 minutes of goofing around gets hearts pumping.

By building in time for active play, you’re helping your child develop sharper thinking skills along with strong muscles . As one pediatric specialist puts it, “play is not frivolous: it enhances brain structure and function”. So let them run wild, their brains will thank you!

Kids Pretend Play

2. Pretend Play (Imaginative & Dramatic Play)

Remember the last time your child turned a cardboard box into a spaceship or pretended to be a teacher to their stuffed animals? That’s pretend play, and it’s far from “just pretending.” Imaginative play is a workout for the brain’s creative and social muscles. Research shows that children who engage often in pretend or dramatic play develop stronger language skills, empathy, and even self-regulation abilities (Child Mind Institute, 2023). By inventing stories and characters, kids practice problem-solving and abstract thinking. They learn to navigate emotions and perspectives, one moment they’re a brave superhero overcoming fear, the next a parent comforting a “baby.” These mental gymnastics translate into real-world cognitive benefits.


Why it works: In pretend play, children must plan scenarios, negotiate roles, and follow rules they’ve created, all of which exercises executive function and flexible thinking. They also use rich language while in character, often using more complex vocabulary and sentences than in regular conversation. This kind of play has been linked to better emotion regulation; for example, kids who frequently play fantasy games show greater ability to manage their feelings (they practice being “scared” or “angry” within the pretend story and learn to cope). Pretending to be different characters can enhance theory of mind, helping children understand others’ thoughts and feelings. And of course, it supercharges creativity, studies find that imaginative play boosts divergent thinking (coming up with multiple solutions) and originality. In short, when your child is saving the world as a caped crusader or hosting an imaginary tea party, their brain is expanding in wonderful ways.


How to encourage pretend play:

  • Provide open-ended props:
    Offer simple toys like dolls, action figures, costume pieces, or even old clothes. Items like cardboard boxes, blankets, and plastic kitchenware can become castles, capes, or cooking pots in a child’s imagination.

  • Join the fun (on their terms):
    Let your child be the director, ask if you can play a role. Follow their storyline and improvise together. Showing that you take their make-believe seriously boosts their confidence and joy.

  • Value the mess and noise:
    Pretend play can get rowdy or cluttered and that’s okay. During play, try not to interrupt to “correct” details or clean up. Let the fantasy flow. You can suggest a tidy-up game together afterward.

Most importantly, give them time for unstructured play. Squeezing every minute with structured activities can stifle the free-flowing creativity that pretend play needs. When kids have the freedom to imagine, they exercise brain areas responsible for creativity and even improve skills like inhibitory control and memory through their role-playing games. So the next time you hear your child conversing with invisible pirates or hosting a make-believe restaurant, know that serious learning is happening in that delightful imaginary world.

Kids constructive play

3. Constructive Play (Building and Puzzle Play)

There’s something almost magical about the concentration on a child’s face as they build a tower of blocks or snap together LEGO pieces. This is constructive play, when kids create or assemble things, and it has big payoffs for cognitive development. Building with blocks, doing puzzles, or constructing models enhances spatial reasoning, math skills, and problem-solving abilities (Purdue University, 2018). Researchers have found that children who frequently play with construction toys tend to develop better understanding of shapes, patterns, and even later math performance in school (Bower et al., 2020). One study showed that a semi-structured block play program improved preschoolers’ numeracy and cognitive flexibility, skills that are critical for STEM learning (Purdue University, 2018). In short, when your child is tinkering and building, they’re building their brain too.


Why it works: Constructive play requires kids to plan, test, and adjust strategies , essentially an early lesson in engineering and design thinking. For example, figuring out how to keep a block tower stable involves understanding balance and gravity (often through trial and error and lots of crashes!). This kind of play boosts spatial visualization , the ability to imagine what happens if you rotate or flip objects. Improved spatial skills in childhood have been linked to better achievement in math and science later on (Bower et al., 2020). Building play also often engages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination (fitting puzzle pieces or connecting tiny bricks), which supports writing and tool use. And when projects are done with a friend or sibling, kids practice collaboration and communication (“You find the corner pieces, I’ll find the edges”). They learn to share ideas, negotiate plans, and solve problems together, all fantastic cognitive and social exercises.


How to encourage constructive play:

  • Keep building materials on hand:
    Set aside a corner with materials like wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, LEGO or other construction kits. Even recycled items (cardboard tubes, cartons, bottle caps) can become building supplies for creative kids.

  • Challenge them (lightly):
    Prompt curiosity with simple challenges: “How tall a tower can you build with these blocks?” or “Can you make a bridge that spans between two chairs?” Such prompts set a goal that spurs problem-solving, but let them figure out the how.

  • Celebrate process, not just product:
    When your child builds something, ask them to tell you about it. “How did you decide to make it that way?” and praise their creativity and effort (“I love how you tried a new design when it fell down!”). This encourages a growth mindset and willingness to tackle complex builds.

Through constructive play, children literally learn how to bring ideas to life. They start with a mental plan (“I want to build a spaceship”) and then translate it into a real structure with their hands. Not everything will work on the first try and that’s great! Failing and redesigning teaches resilience and adaptive thinking. So, next time your living room floor is covered in blocks and imaginative inventions, take heart knowing that your child is quietly boosting their IQ. In their play workshop, tomorrow’s architects, engineers, and innovators are taking shape.

Dad and kid painting

4. Creative Play (Arts, Crafts and Music)

Put some crayons, paper, and glitter in front of a child and you’ve unlocked another dimension of play: creative play. Whether it’s drawing, painting, crafting, or making up songs and dances, artistic play nurtures the brain’s right hemisphere skills, creativity, emotional expression, and visual-spatial thinking. Engaging in art and music has been shown to improve children’s problem-solving abilities and even academic achievement. In fact, children involved in arts education tend to perform better in school overall, likely because art builds critical thinking and decision-making skills (National Childminding Association of Ireland, n.d.). Creative activities encourage kids to explore and innovate, which strengthens their brains’ ability to form new connections. Plus, art and music are fantastic outlets for reducing stress and building confidence.


Why it works: When children draw a picture or learn a song, they are making choices and envisioning outcomes (“Should I use the red or green here? What notes sound good together?”). This improves their executive function and planning on a small scale. Arts and crafts also involve trial and error . If a paper airplane doesn’t fly far, how to adjust the folds? Such tinkering enhances analytical skills even in a creative context. There’s also a language benefit: narrating their artwork or discussing a story behind it expands communication skills. Neurological studies show that creating art engages multiple brain regions and can increase neural connectivity, leading to stronger memory and attention spans.). Emotionally, creative play is a safe space for kids to express feelings. A child might paint a picture of a “mad monster” to represent anger or compose a silly song to express joy. By doing so, they learn to understand and regulate emotions, an important aspect of “emotional intelligence” that supports cognitive growth and social skills.


How to encourage creative play:

  • Stock an art shelf:
    Provide basic supplies like crayons, markers, kid-safe scissors, glue, and a variety of papers. Add in fun extras like stickers, colored pipe cleaners, or clay. Having materials readily available invites spontaneous creation.

  • Join in or appreciate:
    Some days, sit and color alongside your child or make a craft together. Collaborative art projects can be a lovely bonding experience. Other times, give them space to create independently, then have an “art show” where they explain their masterpiece to you. Showing genuine interest in their creations boosts their pride.

  • Celebrate creativity in daily life:
    If your child comes up with a wild story or a new dance move, celebrate it! You might say, “I love how imaginative that is,” linking creativity to positive feedback. This reinforces that thinking outside the box is valued.

Creative play might look like just doodling or humming a tune, but under the surface it’s fueling cognitive development. By exploring art and music, kids expand their vocabulary (of colors, sounds, emotions) and learn to innovate solutions (e.g., “How do I make my clay person stand up?”). Art trains the brain to slow down and see details and possibilities. So when you encourage your young artist or musician, you’re not only cultivating their creative spirit, you’re also helping them think smarter and more flexibly in all areas of life.

Kid playing chess

5. Games with Rules (Board Games and Card Games)

“Just one more game, please?” If you’ve ever heard that at family game night, you know how compelling board games and card games can be for kids. Classic tabletop games, from Candy Land to Chess, are a form of play that comes with structured rules. And this type of play is fantastic for brain development. Playing games with rules teaches kids logic, strategy, and patience. Research indicates that board games can improve children’s numeracy and executive functioning skills ((Ehrenfeld, 2022). For example, simple board games that involve counting (like Chutes and Ladders) help young children grasp number sequences and arithmetic. Games also exercise working memory (remembering the rules, whose turn it is, what your strategy is) and self-regulation (waiting your turn, handling wins and losses gracefully). In one study, children who played board and card games showed increases in prosocial behaviors and even improvements in attention and cooperative skills. All that fun competition is secretly a brain-training session!


Why it works: Structured games create a mini “learning lab” for the brain. Children must understand and follow a set of rules, which boosts comprehension and listening skills. They often need to plan ahead (“If I draw this card, what will my next move be?”) which nurtures strategic thinking and foresight. Many games involve math and reading in practical ways (e.g. counting moves, reading cards) making learning feel like play. Importantly, games also teach social and emotional skills. Kids practice taking turns, empathizing (“She looks disappointed to lose, I know that feeling”), and managing frustration when the game doesn’t go their way. These experiences can increase emotional resilience over time. On the cognitive side, strategy games (like checkers or certain card games) engage the frontal lobe, reinforcing skills like problem-solving and decision-making. Even fast-paced card games (like Uno) train quick recall and impulse control (you must wait for the right color/number to play). And let’s not forget the boost in focus to play a game, children often stay on task for 30 minutes or more, which is great practice for classroom attention.


How to encourage games with rules:

  • Family game nights:
    Designate one evening a week for family board games. Let your child pick the game (or rotate choices). Make snacks, get cozy, and have fun. Consistent game nights give kids something to look forward to and create a routine of play.

  • Encourage sportsmanship and reflection:
    After games, chat about what happened. “That was a close game! What strategy did you like?” or “I noticed you waited patiently even when you had a good card, great self-control!” Emphasize fun and learning over winning. This helps kids handle competition in a healthy way.

  • Try cooperative games:
    Not all games have to be competitive. Games where players work toward a common goal (like Race to the Treasure or Outfoxed! ) can be a nice break from the “I win/you lose” format. They teach teamwork and problem-solving as a group, which are wonderful skills for kids to develop.

Bringing more board games into your routine is an easy win for cognitive growth. One study review noted that playing board games engages multiple cognitive domains at once, from math to language to executive function (Vita-Barrull et al., 2024). And kids find them highly motivating, they’ll practice hard skills (like addition or memory) willingly if it means beating Mom or Dad at a game. So the next time you set up a round of Snakes and Ladders or Memory, know that you’re not “wasting time”, you’re helping your child’s brain form new connections. Best of all, you’re doing it in a way that strengthens your family bond and creates joyful memories. That’s a win-win situation no matter who scores the most points.

Summary

By incorporating these five types of play into your child’s life, you are feeding their brain the diverse diet it needs to thrive. Physical play provides the fuel for focus and health. Pretend play sparks creativity and emotional growth. Constructive play builds problem-solving and STEM skills. Creative art/music play enriches the mind and soul. And games with rules sharpen thinking and social savvy. The key is variety and balance, encouraging a bit of each, without over-scheduling, so that play remains child-led and fun.


In our busy, digital world, making space for screen-free play can be challenging, but it’s one of the best investments you can make in your child’s development. Every time you say “yes” to playtime, you’re saying yes to learning, laughter, and growth. And remember, you can join in the fun too. Parents who play with their kids (when appropriate) build stronger relationships and get to relive the joy of childhood. So next time your little one asks you to play, try to set aside the to-do list for a while and dive in with them.


Play truly is the work of childhood and it’s a job that builds smarter, happier kids. Encourage these forms of play regularly and you’ll be amazed at the benefits you see in your child’s curiosity, confidence, and mental skills. Plus, you’ll have a lot of great memories of your 6- to 11-year-old just being a kid. And that’s priceless.



References

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