What an imagination they have at this age! Why is allowing spontaneity so important?
Beyond the skills he acquires (which are many), the invented game is his way of finding the answers within himself, of crying out for help, of restructuring reality to understand it, of influencing his world. What good reasons to give him space and time he needs!
Society is oriented to achieve results. Even when looking for games, we choose the ones that promise that the child will develop a skill. But in the game, the results are a consequence that is not sought because the important thing is to play. When they do it spontaneously they enjoy the present. They learn to trust themselves. And to enjoy life.
In the face of conflict, invented games serve to put yourself in the other’s place and to drive contained aggression. What parents express (“this is not done, this is not said”) is sometimes useless, but there are tools that help them understand themselves and others.
The most important thing is that we do not try to direct his game (although we do not understand it), but that we are willing to let ourselves be directed by him. The rules, in general, are set by our son. Why? Because he knows what he wants at every moment. And it may not match what we think you need. Sometimes all it takes is space and time to play.
These are actually the two basic ingredients of the game, but we tend to fill their activity schedules. So it is a good idea to plan time and space. With few limits, that is to say, that almost everything is allowed: to drop to the ground, manipulate and touch, and even scream…