Youngsters like to imagine. Their usual play consists of a good deal of it – from acting like a chef to a police officer or even a queen. Many parents, however, worry that too much pretend play is bad for their small children.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Little children need to imagine. And it’s not a straightforward game. It’s a needed element of maturing and how they learn growing up skills.

These are typically just a few of the positive aspects of pretend play:

  • Thinking in the abstract
  • Discovering leadership skills
  • Safely exploring the world
  • Understanding another person’s perspective
  • Exploring imagination
  • Acquiring language skills

Any time a boy or girl is allowed to engage in imaginative play, he can imagine to be any person he wants. That’s important because it provides him the chance to be another person. Quite simply, he encounters brand new emotions though someone else’s eyes.

That’s a wonderful way to discover empathy and recognize the emotions of others. There are other rewards, too, for example developing self-esteem. Pretending also enables a small child to feel good about herself when she discovers she can be anything or anyone.

Imaginary play is also a good means to teach children how to solve problems. Because they work out their roles in a issue, they imitate what they have seen before. It’s a simple approach of putting into practice what they are learning in the world about them.

Dressing up is an important part of imaginary play and one that parents ought to inspire. Encouraging a diverse array of the fantasy-playing is essential. Moms and dads can nurture creative play by offering their children lots of tools.

A toy box can be filled with a assortment of costumes and props to ignite a child’s imagination. Old attire, hats and shoes or boots are an important first step, but don’t discount adding brand new fancy dress costumes, too, for example a kids princess costumes.

Also, include lots of props, such old old cell phones, stuffed animals and dishes. The options are unlimited and it provides a mommy a opportunity to use her creativity, too.