With the temperatures now warming into springtime it is hard to believe that the weather predication just two weeks ago was so ominous. On the day before the now infamous “no-storm” prediction, forecasters said there would likely be 8 inches or more of heavy, wet snow and up to 50 mph winds. Those are the makings for some dangerous travel and widespread power outages. Word spread like wildfire and the grocery stores were packed. As people went to bed that night they were urged to have candles and flashlights at the ready and to follow the now standard government warning, “If you don’t have to go out just stay inside and stay off the roads.”
Many people awoke early the next morning to the “robo-call” from the school system cancelling classes, which is the sure signal of a snow day. A lot of us were a little confused though when we looked out the window only to see rain coming down on what seemed to be a typical, gray, March day. Getting my coffee I looked at the thermometer which read a balmy 40 degrees. Hmmm, I wondered, I don’t think I have ever seen it snow much when it is forty degrees out. Thinking maybe Annapolis was an unusually warm weather pocket for some reason (the thought of all the politicians in town during session flashed through my mind); I decided to check out the news to see what the real story was. But just like Annapolis, even in Washington, D.C., and downtown Baltimore — both cities that were supposed to be slammed with snow — there was nothing but rain.
Watching the news guy in Washington I was even more confused when he spoke into his microphone in an excited tone about the big winter storm while standing in front of an unusually green White House lawn. He talked about all of the snow and how bad it was going to be, and how the government had already announced that it was closing down because of the storm. It seemed surrealistic though because there was only rain and it just seemed too warm to snow. But I thought, they must know what they are talking about because surely they can look at their thermometers too — after all they are professionals.
As the day rolled on, the talk of the storm initially did not dwindle but intensified — even if the storm didn’t. There had been a flurry of shopping the night before as people stocked up on “essentials” in preparation for the storm, but now the town and the shopping centers were deserted. The rain soaked streets were all but abandoned as it appeared that most people had taken the government’s advice to stay in and not to venture out onto the roads.
Still perplexed as I looked out through the rain drops on my office window it hit me. Why hadn’t I realized it earlier? Because there really hadn’t been much snow for the third winter in a row, everyone was simply making believe that it was a snow day. Now it all made sense. School cancelled, government shut down, people staying home, frantic weather reports with fancy winter storm graphics, even reporters standing in the rain talking as if it were snowing ... it was a PRETEND snow day!
Making believe and pretending are unique human qualities that may play an important role in children’s brain development and in a higher quality of life for adults as well. Research on human development has found that children who engage in pretend play are more creative than those that don’t. They also have a stronger ability to understand and empathize with others. The ability to pretend is an important part of cognitive flexibility and contributes to the ability to sense or understand what others might be thinking or how they feel. Objective studies have demonstrated other cognitive benefits of pretending including an increase in language usage and a better understanding of subjunctives, future tenses and adjectives. It also helps to develop a “theory of mind” — meaning an awareness that one’s thoughts may differ from those of other persons. This is the underpinning of the ability to understand a variety of perspectives, to empathize with others and to understand that there are other viewpoints than out own.
More than 75 years of study has also found that pretending bolsters the imagination and enhances the ability to think abstractly. Fantasy and pretend play also increases language and social skills while strengthening problem solving and leadership skills. Imagination lets people safely explore and consider a world beyond their own without having to blast off into space. This helps to spur personal growth and increase the adventure and excitement of life. In short, pretending is powerfully good for the brain.
Parents can maximize pretend play in their children by encouraging and modeling this thought process and providing access to magical, imaginative activities such as playing dress up, reading, telling and re-enacting stories, performing for an audience and playing out real-life roles such as being a fireman, an astronaut or a policeman. When children magically turn a towel into a cape or an empty appliance box into a castle or spaceship, the brain is working overtime to understand and express the complex concepts and language associated with that role and activity. Critics of contemporary educational curriculum often point to the shortage of creative and imaginative play for children as our society seems to want to become more factual and knowledge based-leaving many children’s capacity for imagination under-utilized. That is why it is so important that children have exposure to reading fiction, artistic expression, listening to music and participating in theater.
There is no doubt that adults benefit from pretend play as well. Tapping into imagination and fantasy helps to keep the brain strong and encourages relaxation and fun for compressed adults. It also helps to take adults outside of themselves and contributes to greater flexibility in thinking. Even passive participation in fantasy such as watching movies, enjoying theater and reading are meaningful activities, although direct participation is ideal.
Thus, the recent “no-storm” wasn’t a total loss at all. It was fun to pretend that we had a snow day even though it didn’t really snow. If you can’t have a real one, a pretend one is better than nothing. While I hope it didn’t cost the public too much money, or wasted vacation or lost studies for students, I know a lot of people were able to relax, sleep-in and spend some extra time with their families and that in itself is priceless.