The Importance of Imaginative Play

Imaginative play is not only fun for children but it also plays a vital role in their development. It encourages the development of their imagination, role-playing scenarios while learning language, physical, problem solving, social and emotional skills that will help them in every day of their lives, now and forever.

Language Skills:

Have you ever listened as your child engages in imaginative play with their toys or friends? You’ve probably heard phrases or words you never thought they knew! In fact, children pick up on words and phrases from their family, teachers and friends. Imaginative play helps children understand the power of language and make a connection between written and spoken word – a skill that will help develop their reading skills.

Physical Skills:

While “cutting up” ingredients in their pretend kitchen or dressing their doll in their favourite outfit, children are developing important gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This can also include running around in superhero capes while saving the world also encourages active, imaginative play in children. 

Problem Solving Skills:

Imaginative play provides children with multiple opportunities to solve problems. Whether it be two children wanting to play the same role, figuring out how to escape the dungeon or finding the perfect material to cover their pillow fort, children call upon and start to develop important cognitive skills that are useful in everyday life.

Social and Emotional Skills:

As children engage in pretend play, they are experimenting with and understanding different social roles, social interaction and relationships. When children pretend to play a character, they are actively practicing and developing their empathy as they walk in others’ shoes. It’s normal for young children to see the world from an individual point of view, though through imaginative play and maturation, they will begin to understand their own feelings and those of others.