| Once upon time, you may have worn your mother's | | | | it can bring to your child won't make it so ridiculous |
| favorite apron while arranging miniature tea sets on a | | | | anymore. |
| tiny table, serving imaginary tea and scones to your | | | | Benefits of Pretend Play |
| favorite doll. Or you may have been in command of | | | | Social and Emotional Development - Children can |
| your action figures, leading them to the battlefield in the | | | | become whoever they want to be in pretend play. |
| center of your living room. | | | | Because of this, they are able to get a very basic |
| The character you were playing when you were | | | | view of how it's like to be a doctor with his toy hospital |
| young - a chef in a play kitchen or a general in the | | | | or how it's like to be a chef with her play kitchen. As |
| Stars Wars of your imagination - are still perhaps being | | | | kids act out the part of somebody else, empathy is |
| played by many children nowadays. Pretend play is | | | | planted. When children realize they can be any |
| such a source of joy that even with the advent of so | | | | character they want to be, their self-confidence could |
| many modern games, this old-fashioned imaginative | | | | grow. And with this comes the desire and strength to |
| play never loses its appeal. | | | | explore new things. |
| Promoting Pretend Play | | | | Mental Development - Even if it's just child's play, there |
| Because of the many benefits it can give, children | | | | are also many problem-solving situations that children |
| should be encouraged to engage in pretend play. But | | | | encounter during role playing. It may be a concern on |
| never impose the idea or it will lose its appeal. Here are | | | | what material should best replace a lost play kitchen |
| some scenarios for starting a pretend play: | | | | spoon or who among the action figures to pick as the |
| - If you see your little girl constantly dressing up her doll, | | | | second in command. The process of looking for |
| ask her where her dolly is off to and maybe it's better | | | | solutions to obstacles develops the analytical skills of |
| for little dolly to have something to eat in the play | | | | your child. It also promotes resourcefulness, creativity, |
| kitchen before taking off. | | | | abstract thinking and logical reasoning. |
| - When your little boy is playing with his action figures, | | | | Communication - Whether children are playing with |
| comment on how the little ones need the guidance of | | | | their parents, playmates, dolls or imaginary friends, they |
| a teacher or the care of a doctor. | | | | will always engage in conversation. A child starts to |
| - If your child pretends to be a wild animal ready to | | | | learn the importance of communication, especially |
| pounce on you, go along with it. You can act scared at | | | | when he or she mimics grown-up talk and actions. |
| first and then pretend to tame him by giving imaginary | | | | When children pretend to read to their dolls or write |
| food and petting him on the head. | | | | down grocery lists, they may be motivated to start |
| As children warm up to the idea of role playing, | | | | learning how to read and write. |
| whoever's babysitting would usually be assigned a role. | | | | So encourage your child to pretend play. You can start |
| It may seem ridiculous for a grown up like you to | | | | off by presenting a play kitchen or a doctor's kit. |
| assist in a play kitchen or act as the customer in a | | | | Remember, the skills that your child learns here are the |
| lemonade stand the size of your arm. But the benefits | | | | skills that matter in real life. |