Benefits of Pretend Play
and How to Support Imaginative Play in Toddlers and Children

If you are one of the adults who think that pretend play is a waste of time for children, then think again. Research has shown that children who spend more time in dramatic play have a more advanced intellectual development.

Therefore, it's parent's job to make sure that their children have time for imaginative play.

In this article, you will find out why pretend play is beneficial for children and how to support imaginative play in children.

You may wonder why imaginary play gives children plenty of benefits.

To answer this question, let's first see how young children, preschooler in particular, learn. Children learn from experience: from what happens around them, from what they see, they hear, they smell, they taste and they touch.

In order for a preschooler to absorb those experiences and make sense of the world, she has to be engaged in an imaginary play.

Take a trip to a doctor for example. Don't think that your preschooler does not learn by watching the office reception, the way the doctor examines her, the way the nurse weighs her , and so on. To remember and reinforce what she has experienced, your preschooler will try to re-enact that trip with her friend the next day. In play, she practices to weigh the doll, takes the temperature and so on.

That's how young children learn. By observing, imitating, and therefore experiencing.

But imaginary play does not only stimulate intellectual development. There are other benefits of pretend play.

This kind of play supports:

• Social and language skills: Children practice sharing, turn taking, and negotiating skills. New vocabulary pertinent to that particular play theme will also be practiced.
• Creativity and imagination: During imaginative play, children can be anyone and can do anything -- even the impossible like flying. In the world of imaginary play, children can be anyone and do anything.
• Emotional strength: Children will be able to understand and manage certain feelings by re-enacting episodes. In addition, pretend play enhances children's ability to empathize.
• Discipline: In play, children practice rules. She can be a disciplinarian who tells off her teddy for making a mess and refuse to clean it. Having been a disciplinarian herself, she will be encouraged to discipline herself.

So, imaginative play is great for your child's development.

The question is, how to support your children's dramatic play ?

There are several things you can do to enhance your child's imaginative play.

First, be your child's playmates -- this is most effective when your children are young (2 years). However, let your child be in charge. However, if your child is older (more than 4 years of age) and has no siblings to play with, arrange a play date so that they can support each other's dramatic play.

Second, play along or show interest if your child creates an imaginative playmate. Usually this playmate has a character which complements theirs. However, draw a line and be firm when your child starts to do something 'naughty' and blame this on her imaginative friend.

Third, do not intervene with your child's play. Let their imagination flow.

Fourth, read a lot to your children and take them to as many places as you can. After reading, ask stimulating questions to your child, for instance, "What would you do if you were a .....?". These will provide them with more experience more ideas for pretend play.

Fifth, when searching for a preschool for your child, investigate whether the preschool will support imaginative play. Schools which are based on Waldorf philosophy often stress the importance of pretend/fantasy play.

Sixth, provide your child with a space in your home for imaginative play even if this means that your home will not look like a 'designer home' for a while. Similarly, provide your children with many pretend play toys and props which supports dramatic play.

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