Pretend Play – How is it Important and Enhances Child’s Imagination

 

Pretend Play, role playing, Symbolic play, imagine and play - It’s called by different names, but they all mean the same and have numerous and important benefits for kids.

Pretend Play means the child would be representing, copying and being the object/ person he/ she wishes to be or should be.

For Example: Role play being a mummy or daddy; Imagining and playing like a chef and prepare variety of dishes/ run a restaurant

Pretend Play is a skill/ thought development skill/ activity. Here the child has to imagine, understand and play the appropriate character along with emotions/ actions of the same.

E.g.: if there child is a chef, he/ she would have to know “what’s for menu”, here is the price, how to prepare a burger, etc.

This will need the child to understand the character, role and actions of the role. Role playing in a group is even more difficult and challenging especially for younger kids. Here they learn different levels of responsibilities and leadership actions.

Pretend Play helps in developing various skills like observing, listen, leadership, sharing and additionally enhances own creative ideas.

“A picture says a thousand words, and actions don’t even need words” … we all know this. It goes without saying that children will learn in a huge way by thinking and doing rather than reading.

Here are key advantages that Pretend Play helps in developing:

1. Linguistic skills:

Have you ever noticed the way kids will state some sentences, actions etc. when they role play. E.g.: As doctor, they will say ok breathe hard or time for your shot.

Aren’t we surprised how they learnt it? Sometimes even the posture and dialect used is exactly same of the role.

This is because they would have heard, observed, listened and understood the role carefully from either the person, or from us, and now would be replicating the same.

i.e. Observe, Listen and Replicate.

This helps in building listening skills along with verbiage, pronunciation and communication of the same.

2. Emotive and Socio-economic skills:

When a child plays with others it helps in developing his emotional, social and interactive skills. As he/she plays the character, it helps to build empathy, sympathy and also negotiate. It also helps in maturity, helping others etc.

E.g.: Playing and taking care with younger kids.

 

 

3. Enhancing Creative Skills:

As the child role plays being somebody, the choices for the role are unlimited. This enhances thought process, analytical skills and creativity.

E.g.: If one has to manage a restaurant, need to decide menu, prices, items needed as part of menu etc.


4. Develops Critical Thought Process:

Pretend Play often needs child to decide and come up with an answer in that role.

E.g.: If he is a doctor and is unable to find bandage, he will have to figure out an alternative. This enables creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

 

In Pretend Play the child needs to imagine, comprehend and own the character.

It needs the child to even know what to speak for that character, and answer any questions that may be asked. It positions them for their future if they want to choose that as their career as well.

So, let the children be any Role/ anything they want to be… Sit back and Enjoy with them and Make Pretend Play a Fun-n-Learn Play!