Pretend to Play and Its Importance in Child Development

Parents often engage their children in activities, so they develop the skills they need for life. Pretend play is often integrated.

As the name suggests, pretend play is any activity that includes an element of ‘pretend’. When children pretend, they use their imagination to develop scenarios. They may also use problem-solving abilities to resolve scenarios and move the plot along.

Pretend play can be included in any type of play. It can be integrated when your child is at home playing with toys, or it can be introduced on children’s outdoor play equipment. Get as creative as you want your child to be when making it a part of your family life.

What are the Benefits of Pretend Play?

• Develops Language and Communication Skills: Pretend play requires communication. It forces children to use language skills to express their thoughts and emotions.
• Boosts Creativity: When children pretend play, they can try out new ideas and play various roles. They develop creativity which will help them come up with out-of-the-box ideas and problem-solve later in life.
• Benefits Gross and Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills are small muscle movements in the hands and fingers. Gross motor skills are larger movements in the arms legs and torso. Both are developed during pretend play sessions.
• Develops Social Skills: Children can pretend play with their friends, but even when they pretend play alone, they often act out social interactions. Doing so will help them interact with others in real life.
• Improves Self-Confidence: When children try new roles and develop skills, it boosts their self-confidence. They will feel better about themselves and more confident when similar situations come up in real life.

How to Pretend Play

• Cooking: Set out cooking equipment and have your child pretend they are preparing a meal. They can converse with other ‘chefs’ in the kitchen. They can even serve ‘guests’ and act out dinner conversation.
• Camping: Turn off the lights, get some sleeping bags in the living room, and pretend you are on a camping adventure. What challenges will you face? What discoveries will you find?
• Running a Shop: With the right set-up, your little one can become an entrepreneur. Dolls and toys can become customers. Knickknacks can become the products they sell. This is a valuable way to improve socialisation skills.
• Playing Superheroes: Kids love playing superheroes. Let them use their imagination to develop their own universes and special powers.
• During Outdoor Play: Pretend play should not be limited to indoor environments. You can also encourage it during outdoor play. Trampolines can simulate the waves of an ocean adventure. Children’s outdoor play equipment can be a mighty tank. Swing sets can be time-traveling machines.

Little Tacker Toys has everything you need to encourage pretend play in children. Our quality equipment ensures safety during outdoor activities. Our unique designs will boost their imagination transporting them to another world.

Contact us to explore our selection. We will help you find the ideal items for your child’s development stage.