Some friends & I were discussing our pre- pubescent daughters and how discouraging it can be to see their same-age friends start getting caught up in boy infatuation and leave behind the world of Play.
My daughter is 12, a young 12, has no interest in teen role playing. She still loves her fantasy worlds, something I am very grateful for and try to encourage.
I don't want to keep her little forever, but childhood innocence is so fleeting, I want her to have it as long as she can. And I think the fantasy role playing better prepares her for facing real life situations.
The fairy-child that flits around commanding dragons and performing magic will be better able to deal with evil wizards in real time. It gives them an inner resource to draw upon. I've seen it when Jacky has had troubles. She will withdraw socially and spend hours playing with her Breyer horses or Legoland or Barbies. I have listened to her games and it seems she *works out* what ever is going on through her play. Tries several different scenarios until she finds one that fits. Then applies it to herself.

You can't do that unless you have time in unbroken stretches without 2nd or 3rd party interference. Maybe this is why many ps kids give it up so early. No time. Talking about boys, sex, hair, makeup and all the other *big kid* stuff requires little imaginative thought. And daydreaming is so frowned upon once you hit a certain age. "Let's FOCUS children!! Stop staring out the window and look at your text book!! Jimmy!! Are you doodling AGAIN???"
"For cryin out loud!! You're 12 years old!! It's time to quit acting like a child!! Grow up! You are going to be an adult in 6 yrs.!!!"

This is one of my main arguments against structured curriculum use. If you HAVE to know certain things at certain times - fill your brain with the *requirments* of someone else, it stands to reason that other types of thought processes will wither.
It is difficult to switch back & forth from regimented thought to free flowing ideas. What happens if you get an idea when you are supposed to be working on *school stuff*? It's almost impossible to pull that thought out of the drawer and have it be as shiny & new as when you shoved it in there. After awhile it gets to be to much work to dust them off and work with them, it's easier to just keep thinking in that straight line, A+B=C.

Fantasy requires work. Plotting out your story line and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion. The unexpected occurs, or suddenly you get a new insight as to what can happen with your characters, or you might find a new prop to introduce. Or a new character - good or evil- makes an unexpected appearance and changes everything. (Just as in Real Life) This kind of thinking doesn't happen *later* - it's spontaneous and happens within the Game itself. Flashes of insight are difficult to come by in a structured curriculum oriented environment. To much brain energy is focused on completing the task at hand.

After awhile, it is easier for fantasies and daydreaming take on *pre-written* storyline. The plot has been outlined for you - "10 Ways To Make Your Crush Notice You", "15 Hairstyles To Turn His Head" "Are You Satisfying Him?12 Ways to Improve Your Lovemaking", "The 20 Hottest Careers and What You Need to Know".
You just insert the characters and choose your ending. Doesn't take much time or energy. Kind of like taking the Interstate or the Scenic Route - each will take you to the same point - but which road gives you a better understanding of the world around you?

I think Imaginative/Creative Thoughts can lead to Linear/ Structured Thinking but rarely works in the reverse.