Imaginative Play

Imaginative play is something I've always thought is extremely important for children of all ages to participate in. It probably stems from the joy I had engaging in it as a child. When I was a child, I was always pretending something. Whether it was as simple as pretending I was an 'adult' (a.k.a. dressing up in my mother's clothing) or as elaborate as planning and carrying out a meal with all my furry friends (a.k.a. my stuffed animals) and my mother's fancy dinnerware.

Since I've grown into an adult and looked after many children as a childcare provider, I've always enjoyed watching and encouraging the children I take care of to participate in imaginative play. Some of my favorite ways to encourage the growth of children's' imagination is through activities such as
- 'make believe' play (e.g. make-believe-playing school, restaurant, etc.), including dress-up with things found around the house or in a dress-up treasure chest
-  storytelling - I love encouraging the children I babysit to tell me a story while looking through the pages of a book instead of me always reading the story to them. I've found that this is a great way to help develop the child's imagination and encourage their self-esteem.

You will probably notice that your child will use their imagination with almost anything they can find (e.g. an empty box, pots and pans, etc.). There are also a great selection of toys on the market that allow your child to explore their imagination even further. For example the Little People® Pirate Ship (a previous favorite of my nephew's) is great for allowing children to pretend that they are pirates on a ship at sea. Or, My First Dollhouse, which is perfect for allowing little girls (or boys) to play 'house'.

The wonderful thing about imaginative play is not only that it is important for healthy development, but it's a lot of fun too - no matter what age you are! With imaginative play, if you can imagine it, you can do it! Children seem to enjoy this concept and love engaging in this type of play. Dr. Kathleen Alfano (an well-known expert in child development) says that imaginative play is important for children to gain and build on skills such as thinking, problem solving, goal setting, empathy, and it can also improve social and communication skills.

Dr. Alfano mentions several things you can do to help promote your child's imagination:
- "Look at the clouds and take turns imagining what they resemble." This is something that I always enjoyed doing when I was young.
- "Provide toys that encourage creativity and imagination." Toys such as barbies (or other dolls), dress-up clothes, or doctor's kits are fabulous for this!
- "Arrange play dates with others to foster social and imaginative play."
- "Use your own imagination and awaken your own inner child." This is my favorite suggestion of Dr. Alfano's and something I try to engage in often.
These are just a few suggestions to help you encourage your child's imagination.

Imaginative play is something that I am really looking forward to experiencing with my daughter when she gets a bit older. The possibilities of imaginative play are endless and they create wonderful memories for children! As I look back on my childhood, I realize that some of my greatest and most vivid memories are times that I was actively using my imagination.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.