The Benefits of Pretend Play

- Pretend play is important throughout life and starts at a young age.

- Adults constantly use their imaginations on a daily basis to solve problems, to invent new products or designs and while enjoying a fictional book or movie.

Reasons to Encourage Pretend Play:



1. Encourage Imagination and Creativity: Imaginary Play Builds a Child’s Ability for:

- Flexible Thinking and then Creativity.

- Independent Thinking.

- Helps children understand another point of view by conducting role play activities.

2. Supports Social and Emotional Development:

- As children pretend to be different people they are practicing different social and emotional roles of life.

- Pretend play also develop Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness.

- Children will learn how to recognise and respond to other peoples feelings when involved in group activities.

3. Improves Language and Communication Skills:

- Children may learn new words that they might not encounter every day.

- Pretend play is fun and provides opportunities for discussion, children have the option to communicate their thoughts to others.

- Pretend play can also take away some of the anxiety around social situations.

4. Develops Thinking, Learning, and Problem-Solving Abilities:

- The nature of pretend play, will result in children been presented with problems and scenarios to solve.

- Pretend play will help children deal with change when something doesn’t go to plan in a game.

- Abstract Thinking is developed – when an everyday object takes on a different meaning.

5. Enhances Physical Development:

- Pretend Play can enhance Physical Development e.g. being an aeroplane, climbing ladders as a fire fighter.

- Fine Motor Skills can also be developed while activiating small muscles in the hand by feeding and dressing a baby doll.

- Children will also learn the limits around rough physical pretend play.