Imaginative play
What is it?
Imaginative play is when children act out, role-play or re-enact experiences they may have already experienced or have seen in the community, on TV or even in your own home. They do this in order to make sense of the world around them and absorb experiences further. Imaginative play is a type of open-ended play with no real structure, end goal or results. When we play imaginatively with our children it is important to remember that it's okay that it might not make sense or seems a little silly, they are just learning!
How can we support them?
There are plenty of ways adults can support this type of play.
-Prepare a fun space to play (ie. backyard, open basement, park or a big field)
-Provide them with some of the necessary tools (ie. toy cars, toy kitchen utensils and play food, toy animals)
-Most importantly…sit and play with them!
What are some benefits of imaginative play?
As adults, it often becomes more difficult to use our imaginations. We often dismiss or undervalue these types of interactions without understanding how impactful they are! Play is how children learn to interact and make sense of the world around them. Here are some areas you can target with play!
-Social skills (turn-taking, sharing, consent)
-Help emotional development allowing them to feel, express and understand their emotions safely
-Practical daily life skills (dressing, eating, bathing, toileting)
-Amazing for developing independence
Everyday Situations
There are UNLIMITED daily situations that you can re-enact with your child. Just think of what you do in a day.
Who do you see?
What do you eat?
What stores do you go to?
How do you get to work?
What shows did you watch on the TV?
You can generate so many different ideas from just these five questions! Such as….
“I saw a policeman today, let’s act like a policeman!”
“I ate a HUGE piece of cake, lets's pretend to make a cake!”
“I went to the grocery store today, let's pretend we are a store clerk bagging groceries!”
“Today I drove to work, let's pretend we are driving a race car!”
“I saw an elephant on the TV today, what sound does an elephant make! Let’s pretend to walk like an elephant!”
Simple as that, the options are endless! Watch your child blossom while engaging in imaginative play!
