What's more fun than pretending? Find out how playing with friends, creating a restaurant together or twirling around in an interactive story can help your child develop their skills while they are having tons of laughs.
Where can you find police officers, veterinarians, office workers, princesses, karate instructors, and chefs all happily working side-by-side? In the dramatic play area of a child’s classroom, of course.
When children are engaged in imaginative and creative play, they develop problem-solving skills. They also learn how to work with others toward a common purpose while taking turns at leadership roles; this is important for later life success!
A lot of people think that playing around during class time or home times isn't educational but these types activities help kids become more flexible thinkers who can adapt easily when faced by new situations.
What is pretend play and how does it help children learn?
Pretending is important in child development. Through pretend play, children:
- Learn about themselves and the world.
- Work out confusing, scary, or new life issues.
- Develop important complex social and higher order thinking skills.
- Cultivate social and emotional intelligence.
- Synthesize knowledge and skills.
So, how much time should you spend playing with your children? The answer is as different for every individual family, but it’s important to consider the developmental benefits of pretend play. When kids are allowed and encouraged in this type of imaginative activity they can develop skills that will help them grow up into successful adults! Just watch and see…
