Imaginative play is when your child is role-playing different scenarios out from
their imagination or something that holds interest to them.

 

 

When children role play it is a way for them to make sense of the world. It helps
them to process how the world works and to learn practical life skills.


It provides children a way to identify with the adult world and by playing they
can develop their social skills and their language skills.


It can be a great way for children to just relax, let their imagination run wild and
unwind from the busy world around them.


Here are some ways you can encourage your child to engage in imaginary play:-


1- Place to play


You can provide them a place at home to play out their imaginative play.
You can provide them a small closet, build a make-shift fort out of blankets or
assign a small corner in a room where they can act out scenarios from their
imagination.


You can remove all the chairs around a dining table and throw on a blanket over
it. This can happen over a couch as well which they can use as a tunnel.


Let your child imagine they are playing in a make-shift fort or a tunnel.


2- Props and Toys

You can provide your children with simple toys or props that will aid them in
their imaginative play.


Those Amazon packages you receive instead of throwing them away you can
instead cut out one side and put them all together and your kids can use them as
props while playing.


You can also provide them old telephones which they can use and pretend to
have a conversation with someone.


Stuffed animals or dolls can help them remain entertained for hours on end.
If you want to buy some toys or props for your kids online to aid their
imaginative play then do check out the website lilamigosnest.


3- Dress up


Your kid may love playing dress up. You can provide them a box full of colourful
clothes, scarves, hats, wigs and shoes.


They can dress up as their favourite cartoon character or their favourite Marvel
character.


4- Reading


Reading different books to your child will expose them to various scenarios,
stories and experiences that happen around the world.


They can pretend to be a character in a book and play out their imagination.


5- Cooking


Your child might be fascinated watching you cook in the kitchen.

ou can even provide them small crockery items like bowls and spoons so that
they can mimic while watching you cook.


6- Tea Parties


Your kid will absolutely love organising tea parties with you or their friends.
You can set up an indoor picnic for them inside their playroom with some kitchen
related props for them to use.


This role-play can help them learn about various etiquettes while dining in a
restaurant.


7- Sock props


Put a sock over your hand and pretend like they are talking to a muppet.
You can play out different characters using multiple voices which will make it
more fun for your child to join in.


8- Legos/ Building blocks
Children love playing with Legos.
They can pretend to build up an imaginary city with the Legos or building blocks.


9- House cleaning


As you do different house chores you can ask your child to observe and help you
out. This will make them feel like an adult and they will love helping you out.


This will also teach them a sense of responsibility from a young age.


Instead of looking at house cleaning as chores they will slowly learn to enjoy
cleaning their own space and keeping it neat.


10- Shop

You can set up multiple cardboard boxes up like a small ice cream shop or
grocery store that they can pretend to own and you can act as their customer.
You can also assign a cupboard in your house for them and fill it up with boxes
which your children can pretend to sell it to you.


You can even draw out fake money in paper and use that for buying items from
them.


We hope this article has helped you understanding better on how imaginative
play works among children.


Imaginative play is an important part of every child’s imagination and as a parent
it is your responsibility to encourage it your in your child as much as possible.

References:


https://www.persil.com/uk/dirt-is-good/real-play/what-is-imaginativeplay.
html


https://www.learning4kids.net/2011/12/30/what-is-imaginative-play-andhow-
to-encourage-it/


https://therapyfocus.org.au/on-the-blog/the-benefits-of-imaginative-play/