There is a general debate that indulging in an enjoyable activity with children sparks their creativity and helps them develop skills more so than reading. I agree with thiss statement. Activities are more engaging and can help children more than reading does.
Physical play, or activities gives children the chance to explore the environment around them. When they are physically and mentally involved in an activity they develop practical learning which aids in enhancing their motorskills and gives them a hands-on approach to problem solving. When they can touch and see the tasks they need to complete, their cognitive abilites expand and assists in imaginative ways to decipher and solve problems.
Furthermore, being involved in activities with other individuals contributes in growing confidence in their interpersonal and communication skills, which are essential to develop at a young age. Mastery over these attributes cannot be acheived by just reading. The benefits of activity based learning are unparalled to that of just picking up a book and reading.
Reading however, opens up an entire universe of possibilities to children, it cannot provide the same experience that real world activities do, but can introduce them to another world of creative imagination. Nonetheless, it is vital to develop reading ablities as its the main component fo education in the modern world.
Therefore, in my opinion, engaging in enjoyable activities has far more value than reading.