Why It Is Important To Play Pretend Play With Your Kids
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As parents, you would do everything it takes to ensure that your child grows up to be a happy and successful individual. You’ve probably thought about the best school to enroll them into, the best neighborhood to move to, thought of some extracurricular hobbies and classes they can take for overall development and mapped out a schedule to accommodate it all. But did you know that sometimes just playing or being with them will do the trick? That’s right, contrary to popular belief, your kids don’t need you to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on them. They just need you to be present and play with them in order to learn important life lessons and skills. Would you like to know the benefits of diving deep into your child’s imaginative world with them? Read on to know more!
1. What Are The Signs That Show That Your Child Is Engaging In Pretend Play
The moment your child grabs a pole and pretends it’s a wand, you can tell they’ve transformed into a wizard in their imagination, journeying into the world of Harry Potter. This is a clear sign that they’re engaging in imaginative play. You might not always notice it, but during their early years, children spend a lot of time in the world of make-believe, and this is perfectly normal. They might pretend to be a diver, construct a house from cardboard boxes, or host a tea party with their dolls. Whenever your child engages in activities just for game, rather than out of necessity, they’re embracing the world of imaginative play.
2. It Helps Keep Behavioral Problems At Bay
Here’s some great news! Recent research suggests that engaging in pretend play with your kids can reduce the likelihood of future behavioral problems (1). How fantastic is that! Parents who didn’t have the opportunity to participate in such games reported facing challenges in managing their children, while those who did found it easier to teach their children appropriate behavior in the world of make-believe. So, all that time you spent playing “sick” wasn’t wasted after all!.
3. How Does Pretend Play Develop?
Your child won’t be playing make-believe forever. Pretend play typically begins around 17 months when babies start imagining that one object is something better (2). For instance, they might use a banana as a phone or turn a plate into a makeshift drum kit. As they enter their later years, they transition to more elaborate pretend play that may not require physical props at all. They might engage in imaginative play with invisible items. Caregivers and parents can join in on the pretend play, no matter their child’s age.
4. are Giver’s Anxiety Have An Impact On Pretend Play
There’s no doubt that the mental health of caretakers and parents play a huge role in shaping the child and this extends to the way they engage in play as well. Research shows that parents who struggle from having high levels of anxiety tend to refrain from joining in on their child’s pretend play escapades (3). And as we have just read, pretend play does help in curbing behavioral issues from arising in the near future.
5. What Are Some Of The Key Benefits Of Pretend Play
These games may seem silly and like an absolute waste of time to some people but pretend play and imaginative play in general brings many benefits to your child’s overall development. For example, did you know that children who indulge in pretend play have better cognitive skills, language skills and social skills (4)? That’s right, all that just because you pretended to be a pirate or a fairy for half an hour with your little one.
Furthermore, this provides an excellent opportunity for your children to acquire general knowledge that they may apply in their daily lives down the road. For instance, in an experiment involving make-believe scenarios featuring animals, children answered about animals they hadn’t encountered before (5). Therefore, parents might discover that teaching kids about various aspects of life becomes more accessible through engaging in imaginative play with them.
Playing with your child and having fun with them has a lot of benefits and advantages. So, the next time your child wants to be a bus driver, a dragon or a school teacher, go ahead and enjoy. You’re both reaping the benefits of pretend play!
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