The Importance of Imaginative Play and How to Encourage Your Child

Posted On: October 3, 2018 By Jim Newton

Call it fantasy, call it “pretend,” call it imaginative – whatever you want to call it, it’s been proven to be very important for a child’s development. This concept is often difficult for parents, and adults in general, to understand and appreciate because it’s a part of us that has often been lost after years of growing up and being faced with the challenges of real life. Some adults struggle to create art, music, poetry, and stories, but for children, the gift of imagination is innate. Imagination is what allows them to play out scenarios of socialization, problem solving, and explore their senses. Though we may simply chalk it all up to “kids being kids,” there is actually a hidden meaning and purpose behind imaginative play that is critical for a child’s development.

Children practice imaginative play as a way of learning more about the world, themselves, and other people. Engaging in imaginative play with children can be uncomfortable for some adults, and that’s perfectly normal. However, there are ways to engage in imaginative play with children that can be fun, exciting, and even freeing for adults. In this article, we’ll talk a little more in-depth about imaginative play, why it’s important, and how to help children engage in more imaginative play in various settings.

How to help your child engage in imaginative play

Children can get creative with almost anything – they’re very resourceful! A cardboard box can be a spaceship, a house, a car, an office, a stove…you get the idea. However, there are a few ways to make the most of imaginative play by giving your child all the tools and resources they need. Here are a few tips you and your child can benefit from:

Give them multiple settings to explore

It’s helpful to prompt imaginative play in a number of different settings, such as at home, at a friend’s house, at school, at grandma’s house, etc. so that children can generalize that experiential learning to other situations and people. Furthermore, giving your child a dedicated space to engage their imagination will help elicit more creativity. You can use the sofa, the kitchen table, the closet, their bedroom, or other areas of your home where they can let their imaginations run wild.

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Provide them with activities and toys

Giving your child prompts for imaginative play helps give them a direction to go in with their play. For instance, you might pretend that you’re pirates, doctors, explorers, and you also might just see what comes to their mind as they pick up different toys and begin exploring that day. Giving them a range of activities and toys to get creative with is a good way to start the process.

Engage in playing “pretend” with them

While it is important for a child’s developing independence to learn to entertain themselves and befriend themselves, it’s also equally important for a child to see that you can partake in activities with them. This tells them that you care, that you’re interested in what interests them, and that you can be silly and fun sometimes too! It’s a time for creativity and exploration; and while it might be awkward at first, eventually imaginative play might be fun for you as well.

Try exploring real-life scenarios with them

Children practice solving conflicts, play out their inner questions about life, and develop social skills through imaginative play. They also learn to express feelings, learn to empathize with others, and develop their language skills through imaginative play. Therefore, it might be fun and beneficial to practice playing out a scenario that recently happened between them and another friend, adult, or classmate so that they can learn other perspectives and ways of approaching situations.

Here at Great Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center in Sugar Hill, GA, we value many different forms of growth and development; however we certainly recognize the importance of imaginative play and encourage that in our programs for young children in particular. Our classrooms are filled with all kinds of toys and activities to engage children in imaginative play together, which as we know, encourages cognitive, emotional, and social development. To learn more about our programs or to speak with a professional regarding our philosophies on child education, please feel free to contact us directly.