“It’s Not the Toy, It’s the Story” – The Power of a Child’s Explanation

Intro
When your child picks up a toy dinosaur and calls it a spaceship, don’t correct them — listen. The real magic of play isn’t the object itself, but the story they build around it.

Why the Explanation Matters
✔️ Encourages expressive language
✔️ Builds narrative thinking and cause-effect reasoning
✔️ Boosts confidence through storytelling

Your Role as Listener

• Ask open-ended questions: “Where is it flying to?”

• Mirror their words: “So the spaceship was stuck in the jungle?”

• Avoid correcting. Let the logic be theirs.

What Research Says
A 2021 study in Early Child Development and Care found that children who regularly explain their play to adults develop stronger verbal reasoning and perspective-taking skills.

Closing
Every explanation is a window into your child’s inner world. The more you listen, the more they build — with words, with toys, and with confidence.