On any given day, you’ll see Little T running around in a gown or a ballet outfit. Sometimes, she has on her head a white rag that her brother Little Sir holds gingerly after her. Depending on her mood, she is a princess, a ballerina, a bride, a cook, a singer, a guitarist.
Two-year-old Little Sir, on the other hand, is up-to-speed with his sister’s make-believe world, and can easily slip into the role of a prince, a danseur (who does a mean arabesque!), a groom, a restaurant customer, audience, and a singer singing “Goodnight Gorilla.” He’s now also beginning to create his own stories. He drives around holding a round plastic plate, vacuums the floor with a roll of plastic wrapper, or holds up a mango to his face and says it’s his nebulizer!
Two-year-old Little Sir, on the other hand, is up-to-speed with his sister’s make-believe world, and can easily slip into the role of a prince, a danseur (who does a mean arabesque!), a groom, a restaurant customer, audience, and a singer singing “Goodnight Gorilla.” He’s now also beginning to create his own stories. He drives around holding a round plastic plate, vacuums the floor with a roll of plastic wrapper, or holds up a mango to his face and says it’s his nebulizer!
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| Little Sir and his vacuum cleaner |
The Beauty of Pretend Play
I believe in the power of pretend play to build language, social-emotional, and problem-solving skills, among others.
When my children are "playing restaurant,” they use language appropriate for the setting: here’s your order ma’am, enjoy your spinach salad, here’s your change, or in Little Sir’s case, glug, glug, glug, glug! More!
Playing pretend also allows them to be in other people’s shoes. One of their favorite games these days is “Mama, Mama” wherein Little T is the mama and Little Sir is the baby. The baby would call out Mama! Mama! and the little mama would come running to lift the baby up. I love seeing our interactions reflected in their play!
Oftentimes, I hear my daughter wondering about how she will make something, like a camping set-up, a snowy day, or a basket of berries. She’ll then rattle off her ideas, the product of her thinking, and run off to do it. Problem solved!
Encouraging Imagination
Make magic!
Playing pretend also allows them to be in other people’s shoes. One of their favorite games these days is “Mama, Mama” wherein Little T is the mama and Little Sir is the baby. The baby would call out Mama! Mama! and the little mama would come running to lift the baby up. I love seeing our interactions reflected in their play!
Oftentimes, I hear my daughter wondering about how she will make something, like a camping set-up, a snowy day, or a basket of berries. She’ll then rattle off her ideas, the product of her thinking, and run off to do it. Problem solved!
Encouraging Imagination
I’ve set out to encourage imagination in my children right from the start. Starting with just a costume box, we now have a closet dedicated to clothes and accessories that they use for pretend.
When it comes to toys, I don’t buy a lot – I think! When I do go shopping, I naturally gravitate towards pretend toys that that can be played with in a number of ways and that will be used by my children for a long time. These are usually classic, wooden toys that even I love playing with!
A staple now in our playroom is our pretend kitchen with a stove and a sink, wooden dishes, and a wooden tea set. My children can play for hours with these toys and my little boy can be found in the playroom by himself, washing dishes or cooking up something on his own.
When it comes to toys, I don’t buy a lot – I think! When I do go shopping, I naturally gravitate towards pretend toys that that can be played with in a number of ways and that will be used by my children for a long time. These are usually classic, wooden toys that even I love playing with!
A staple now in our playroom is our pretend kitchen with a stove and a sink, wooden dishes, and a wooden tea set. My children can play for hours with these toys and my little boy can be found in the playroom by himself, washing dishes or cooking up something on his own.
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| Be our guest! |
I love how my two littles get deep into their pretend world. With very limited screen-time, they are able to focus on what they are supposed to be doing at this stage in their lives – play, play, and play!
How do you encourage pretend play in your home?
21 comments:
Drooling over your pretend play kitchen toys! :D Hahaha! I want, I want! ;)
The little girl welcomed me from work the other day saying, "Mom, I have a new dog!" while pulling that scarf/necklace that I bought from Ate Jane! Apparently, her new dog is a girl and is about to be a mommy.
My boys' imagination are rich! I suppose a lot of it came from not having a tv at home....
I've always find wooden toys posh, just elegant. Hoping we'd win the raffle.
I make sure they don't get too much TV and I prefer that play with open ended toys that allow them to star in their imaginary worlds. I once saw my son wearing his cape and a sword tucked in his shorts, while his sister wore her fave pink dress as they ride their magical unicorn... which happened to be our pet labrador. Really a sight to behold!
Thanks for always inspiring us to be more intentional parents!
My two boys love pretend play even if they were born 6 years apart. It is in such play where I observe them develop their affections with each other. It somehow balances their tendency to be rowdy. Their imagination affects their emotion in a way that they learn empathy without me giving a lecture on such, it is also one of the cheapest form of education, as they can grab anything within reach and make their own world, together.
Come on over for a play date!
Haha! Hmmm maybe someone wants her mommy to be a mommy again haha :D
Definitely! When children are not entertained by the TV, they come up with their own pretend world and are the better for it!
we (me and my "amo") would line up pillows and ride them like a train. he pretends to be a knight riding his wooden rocking horse and Daddy will be the dragon.
My son, Jacob would ride in a box and wear a plastic (food - KFC?) bucket on his head, as if driving. I bought him a plastic grocery cart which he fills with empty food boxes or toys while he pushes cart around the play pen. He can play drums with an empty cookie can, or clash the lids like cymbals. Pretend play does not need expensive toys and the their imagination is limitless.
My daughter loves mermaids, so whenever she's in the mood to play Ariel, I wrap her legs in a blanket and put a towel on her head (for hair!). It's fun watching her get into the act of playing a mermaid. She rarely notices me whenever she's in the zone, and I think that's a good thing. Her imagination takes her to different places, which is a good exercise in creativity. I let her stay in the zone for as long as she likes. My daughter doesn't like to talk to anyone when she's so engrossed at what she's doing, so I let her be. The important thing is she knows how to use of non-playthings for pretend play.
My little 3yrs old Annicha started playing pretend when she was 2. She loved pretending to be eating out of her plastic food play set. Ofcourse she was smaller then and was content with just holding a cup in one hand and a spoon in the other stirring like she was actually making juice. Since then ive encouraged her by playing with her and sometimes acting with her. Even with a real stethoscope that is not being used I let her play with. It kakes me wonder if she really wanys to be a real doctor someday. :)
Haha! I don't think so! :P
i don't really limit his playthings. i allow him to use empty boxes, canisters or everything he wants to play with as long as it's safe. we also do pretend play together.
I actually did Pretend Play when I was a child and I want my daughters to experience it as well because it will broaden her imagination and will develop creativity and resourcefulness. My eldest daughter (6) started Pretend Play as a Queen, at first she just wanted us to call her 'Your Highness', later on she made use of the things in the house and make it her castle (blankets and chairs), her cape, her crown etc.Everyday a new story, a new adventure and every time she plays I couldn't help but be awed to her because her imagination is just limitless. :)
My daughter has always been playing with her kitchen set toy... to encourage them you just need to play along with them so they will join and play with you....
Yes! The ability to turn an object into something else is an important developmental skill.
Blankets and chairs are just wonderful for encouraging pretend play. Those can be anything! :D
I love how you recognize that they learn empathy through play. The development of social and emotional skills is really one of the benefits of pretend play!
Yes, limiting screen time is best if you want a child's imagination to grow unhampered!
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