Imaginary play is a vital part of your child’s learning. It helps to build the foundational skills for having a balanced conversation, flexible thinking, and making and carrying out a plan with others. While many parents know that imaginary play is important, they also find it hard to make the time and stay engaged (we love to play but we get bored sometimes too!). Here are 10 tips to help support your child in building their imaginative and collaborative play skills:
- Leave phones/electronics in another room—this will allow you to stay more engaged
- Choose your own role—your child may try to place you in a role, but be sure it is one that you agree with and that you can truly play out for a while
- Change roles throughout the playtime—switch it up to keep everyone interested
- Follow your child’s lead, but also insert your own ideas—this should be collaborative!
- Set a timer so that you and your child know how long you will be available to play
- You are not your child’s entertainment—this should be a joint experience and you are not solely responsible for keeping your child interested
- Mix it Up!—Use props/toys or just your imaginations, try different games, themes, etc to help you stay excited about playing
- Stop asking questions—the impulse to ask questions to your child during playtime can be strong, but this take them (and you) out of the play. Instead, stick to comments and observations to show your engagement.
- Remember it’s “just pretend”—if it is not something you normally do or eat in real life, you can still play it out in pretend play. Adults can model flexibility in the play through trying new things and stepping outside of their comfort zone.
- Find your Inner Child—regain your imagination and have fun with the process!
Imaginary Play Ideas: Outer Space, Going on a Trip, Doctor, Dentist, Kitchen at Home, Restaurant, Family, Construction Crew, Pirates, Firefighters, Police/Rescue, Treasure Hunt, Survival, Trains, Animals