Children playing pretend might seem silly at times, but it’s actually pretty serious business when it comes to learning. Whether it's playing dress up or having a pretend concert in the kitchen, imaginative play is important for young children, as it not only builds character, but also helps adults understand a child's perspective and how they view and take in the world around them.

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Imaginative play fosters creativity by providing a safe space for children to act out scenarios of their choosing, including situations that they may not be able to experience in real life.

 

For example, a 2-year-old who cannot go to a restaurant without her parents can, through imaginative play with her friend, create a pretend tea party they can both enjoy at home. It also gives children opportunities to learn about other people’s perspectives, like what Daddy might think when they are playing house.

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It promotes physical development in a fun way. Activities such as fitting a doll’s arms through her jacket’s sleeves are great for hand-eye coordination, as is learning to move and control her hands in different ways. Galloping around on pretend horses helps with gross motor development and coordination.

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It provides an opportunity for kids to practice and develop their language and social skills by merely being with and talking to other children.

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It boosts the development of problem-solving and self-regulation skills. Imaginative play with peers can create situations in which not everyone gets what they want. For example, when more than one child wants to be King of the Castle, the child who does not get what he wants needs to learn how to manage unpleasant emotions for play to continue.

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It gives caregivers a fun way to teach positive behaviour. Parents can introduce situations to play to create “incidental learning” opportunities.

 

For example, when showering their doll, the parent might ask the child questions (e.g. “what happens next?”), make comments (“the water is nice and warm”), and discuss dilemmas (“Oh no, Dolly ran out of soap!”).

 

These teach the child critical functional skills and the ability to work through tricky situations with guidance.