How does fantasy influence children?

Like many reading this, I and many of my friends enjoyed fantasy books and films. Reading or watching these have likely influenced us as we grew up.

Let’s start off with a question that many people do not understand: Doesn’t reading fantasy books and watching fantasy films make people less intelligent? Short answer, no.

According to a study in 2015 called Math talk during informal learning activities in Head Start families, children who read fantasy books, are smarter than kids who either read more realistic books, or those who don’t read books at all. Not only that, but children who read fantasy books are known to be better learners, since they are taught to connect metaphors with real life scenarios.

Not only that, but according to another study called The real reason children love fantasy. It states that children who indulge in fantasy often are better thinkers and in the future, may grow up to be inventors. It also posits that “theorizing and fantasizing have a lot in common.”

In short, fantasy in media is actually really good for children, and it could help them a lot when growing up. So go ahead, fantasize and change the world.

Sources:

Marcovitch, S. (2015, January 19). Math talk during informal learning activities in Head Start families. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885201414000793

Gopnik, A., & Gopnik, A. (2005, December 20). Children’s love of fantasy. Retrieved from https://slate.com/culture/2005/12/children-s-love-of-fantasy.html