When children are faced with real or imagined obstacles while playing, they are required to use their cognitive skills to know how best to overcome them.
If there's an imagined massive gorge that they must cross, which could be on flat ground or on the playground equipment, they will stop and figure out the best way to get across. Do they go around, build a bridge, or throw an imaginary rope across and swing? Or do they have a wizard who can create a bridge for them or cast a spell of flight, so they can fly across?
Given the opportunity, children will come up with some of the most inventive and out of the box solutions to a problem. In doing so, they are learning how to solve puzzles and problems. These skills will help them attain higher grades in school and will serve them well in the workplace.
