The Power of Open-Ended, Imaginative Play: Zonky Play Sofa - Tried and Tested
“Imagination is more important than knowledge”
We are living in an era of tech, screens and an abundance of specialist toys, where structured and often screen-based activities are ever-present. My daughter has always had a wild imagination and creativity for which I’m so grateful - but I’ve often wondered how best to nurture it. She has spent the past few years absolutely annihilating our family sofa and making the cushions into dens, teddy picnics, forts, beds and everything in between. This comes with a few small challenges - firstly I’m usually instructed not to take down the den she's built come the end of the day (which means I have nowhere to sit in the evening) plus when she's playing, there isn’t a huge amount of versatility in the large and heavy cushions, carrying them across the room often results in her wiping out every picture on the wall and ornament propped on the sideboard.
I recently came across the amazing play sofas from Zonky and was keen to test one on behalf of other den-ridden parents…
What is Open-Ended Imaginative Play?
Open-ended imaginative play is a form of play where there are no specific rules, scripts, or predetermined outcomes. Instead, children are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to explore, experiment, and create their own worlds and scenarios. This type of play fosters cognitive, emotional, and social development in children while allowing them to have fun and express themselves freely.
The Versatility of the Play Sofa
The Zonky play sofa is a versatile piece of furniture that can serve as a catalyst for open-ended imaginative play. It has a super sleek, simple design and soft cushions making it an ideal platform for both active and relaxing play - and when combined with a child's imagination, the possibilities are endless. Here's why a play sofa could be the perfect addition to your child's playroom:
1. Comfort and Safety
The Zonky has great quality, high density shock absorbing foam so is designed with safety and comfort in mind. The cushions on both the indoor and outdoor couches are super soft and padded which reduces the risk of injury during playing. They are also incredibly light - meaning the smallest of children can lift and manoeuvre them, which was a huge plus point for us.
2. Encourages Cooperative Play
Playing on a play sofa can foster cooperative play among siblings and friends. I’ve seen my two daughters working together to build their dens (despite the 5 year age gap) and it’s equally been a hit when classmates come over. Children can collaborate to build structures, create stories, or invent games, promoting teamwork and communication skills.
3. Sparks Creativity
The blank canvas of the Zonky encourages children to use their imagination. Whether they're pretending it's a pirate ship, a rocket, or a castle, children can invent countless scenarios and stories. I love the different shapes available - the rectangular arm rests, triangular backrests and round buttons can be made into almost anything. Because they are so lightweight, these can be easily stacked giving height or depth.
4. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills
Building dens and structures involves problem-solving. Children must figure out how to balance cushions, arrange blankets, and design their spaces, which enhances their critical thinking abilities. I’ve seen a huge amount of learning going on since we’ve had one, especially around how heavy blankets are and learning about different materials, as well as the best ways to use the shaped cushions. It’s certainly sparked conversations!
5. Develops Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Climbing, arranging cushions, and draping blankets all require physical coordination and motor skills. Open-ended imaginative play on a play sofa helps children develop both fine and gross motor skills.
Early Years Teacher and Parent Coach Katie Jackson says "Open-ended play helps children develop critical thinking skills, creativity, confidence and imagination, whilst allowing time to process their learning. Eventually children put these skills into practice in different environments, instinctively experimenting more and creating meaningful connections. Ultimately playful learning occurs with open-ended toys. These encourage children to take greater risks, without any fears or pressure, enabling them to build their confidence and problem solve whilst learning from their mistakes. And all through the subtlety and pure joy of playing, in a world that is safe, secure and makes sense to them.
The Magic of Building Dens
Dens provide children with a safe and private space where they can retreat when they need a break or some alone time. This sense of autonomy is essential for their emotional development. As much as my child loves spending time with her friends, watching her cosy up with a book or game under her Zonky den has been so calming and given her some space away from her baby sister.
It has also provided a lovely opportunity for me to connect with her on her level. It’s almost a safe space that she's created herself, allowing her to process emotions and cope with various situations with our support.
Open-ended imaginative play, especially when centered around a play couch and the creation of dens, is a valuable tool for fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and social development in children. It allows them to explore the limitless boundaries of their imagination, develop important life skills, and most importantly, have fun in the process.
The Zonky - Our Takeaways
We road tested both the indoor and outdoor Zonky sofas - the indoor material is incredibly smart and durable - the vegan suede covers integrate really beautifully with interiors so don’t feel at all gaudy or jarring which many kids products do (we opted for the dark green ‘Kale’ colour). The covers are also removable and machine washable which is perfect for when snacks are involved!
The outdoor Zonky version fared just as well if not better as they are wipeable. We tried the bright yellow version - which was fantastic in the garden and with the mixed weather going into autumn I was concerned about moisture, but they stayed dry inside even on dewy grass. One massive benefit of the Zonky is that the covers are interchangeable - so if you’d like to change up the colour of your sofa you can, but crucially, you can buy a set of outdoor covers without having to buy a whole new sofa, meaning your indoor version can be transformed.
It doesn’t advertise itself as a bed, but we actually used one of the Zonky bases as a mattress for one of my daughter's friends who came over, so a hidden bonus if you ever need an extra sleeping arrangement!
Thinking about space?
The Zonky dimensions are 136cm long, with a seat depth of 68cm and height 50cm. It has been a very inoffensive size, mainly because it’s so stylish but also because it stacks and stores away neatly and easily. The reality is (if you’re anything like me) you spend a fair bit of time down low with your children (read; on the floor) and this was a great height to do that with them. I was initially worried it would be another enormous piece of kit but it’s integrated very well into the play area and is light enough to move into different rooms if needed. My older daughter (6) prefers it to the higher couch and for my younger daughter (14 months) it's an ideal, safe height for her to climb up and down.
The play sofa set comes with six sections including 1 x foldable base, 1 x foldable base support, 2 x triangular pillows, 2 x cuboid pillows and 1 x machine-washable outer cover. The round buttons can be purchased as extras - at just £34.99 these are well worth it.
If you're looking to inspire your child's creativity and provide them with hours of joyful play, definitely consider incorporating a play couch into their playroom. This would make a fab birthday or Christmas gift with hours of entertainment guaranteed!
