The thing about being a kid is that you have the freedom to be whoever you choose and do whatever you like. One day you can be a teacher, the next day – a doctor, the day after that – an astronaut. How wonderful! Wish I could be a kid with such a variety of choices instead of a grown up stuck at a desk job.
But we had our time being kids, and now it’s time to raise our own. And as a parent, I am all for encouraging imaginative play, so much that I am regularly participating in my daughter’s tea parties. I’m so happy to see that many daughter enjoys playing pretend, most of the time completely ignoring all the gadgets around her. There are just so many benefits when a child uses their imagination instead of just taking in what’s being served by some sort of device.
One important benefit of imaginative play is that it can help young children discover empathy. When a child plays pretend, they are putting themselves in another person’s shoes. By simply imagining they are taking care of a baby doll, children learn about nurture instincts which helps them understand their parents better. And by playing with a wooden doctor play set, they can explore what it’s like to have a profession involving the care of other people.
Through the help of make-believe play, a child can realize that they can be any character they want to be. This realisation increases their self-confidence and motivates them to develop their own dreams and pursue a goal. For instance, a child pretending to be a teacher can become motivated to start learning how to write and read. Being aware of your child’s play can allow you to notice a certain talent they might have and help them nurture it, like for instance noticing a child’s musical ability when they’re pretending to have a concert in front of an audience of plush toys.
Whenever kids are playing, they are also learning about proper manners and ways to communicate. Conversation is a big part of pretend play. Whether children are playing with a parent, each other, or with dolls, they will always mimic grown-up talk. This can help them learn about the proper ways to behave in a certain situation, like for instance going to the hospital, a grocery store, or talking with a teacher.
Pretend play is a healthy part of a child’s emotional, cognitive and social development and as such it should be encouraged by parents and teachers alike. Always try to motivate your child’s imagination whether by joining them in their play or by presenting a toy like a play kitchen or a wooden doctor play set. The skills a child can learn through play will matter greatly in real life.