What is imaginative play? Benefits, ideas and toys

immaginative play

by Bryony Firth-Bernard |

Imaginative play is when your toddler uses their imagination to act out scenarios. This can be done with or without role play toys, and your child may make believe experiences they’ve seen or would like to experience.

Maybe you’ve witnessed your tot hosting an imaginary tea party with their toys, pretending to be a chef outside in their mud kitchen or using under the table as their 'den'. These are all examples of imaginative play. It’s a wonderful thing to witness and there’s lots of learning benefits that come with this toddler milestone.

What are the benefits of imaginative play?

Imaginative play provides a whole host of benefits to your child from expanding their social skills to feeling relaxed. It’s even important for brain development, says Brian Sutton-Smith, a play theorist: “Not only are children developing the neurological foundations that will enable problem solving, language and creativity, they are also learning while they are playing. They are learning how to relate to others, how to calibrate their muscles and bodies and how to think in abstract terms. Through their play children learn how to learn.”

Here’s all the benefits imaginative play can bring to your tot:

• It allows them to relax and unwind

• Experts believe it helps to develop their social and language skills

• Boost creativity

• Keeps them active

• Improves problem-solving skills

• Encourages emotional development

Examples of imaginative play to get involved in with your kids

Chefs - a great idea for the warmer months to get your tot outdoors in the fresh air. Help them whip up mud pies, grass soup and much more!

play chef

Have a picnic or tea party - this imaginative play idea can take place either indoors or out (weather dependent). A plastic tea set is ideal, otherwise use some plastic cups. You can also expand the guest list by Inviting along your tots toys too.

tea party

Run a shop - children often love getting involved in scenarios where they get to be in an important role. Let your child be the shopkeeper while you act as a series of different customers. Use fake money to purchase different items (use items from around your house, such as fruit, a cup etc).

shop play

Play explorers or pirates - a simple magnifying glass and a hunt around the garden is all your little one needs to be the next Indiana Jones. Or if you have a pair of binoculars why not hop onto the sofa and pretend you’re sailing the seven seas?

explorers

Use a box - it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, a cardboard box can become so many things -  a car, a train, a rocket, a house, a present, a pen for animals or even a treasure chest - simply present your toddler with it and let their imagination run wild. You could even use it to make a den.

house play

Doctors or firefighters - another opportunity for your tot to take the lead in either of these games. Maybe you already have a pretend doctors kit that you can use, or if not an apron would make a great doctors uniform and you can make a sling from an old jumper. If it's sunny, head on outdoors and get out the garden hose or fill some buckets of water. You little one can spray water over the plants (aka 'the fire') - it's also a great two birds one stone method to ensure your garden gets a good watering.

firefighter play

Imaginative play toys

Thankfully, due to using their imagination, imaginative play does not require you to go out and spend lots of money on toys. As we’ve identified above, household items can make great props to spark your little one’s imagination, even from the simplest of things like a cardboard box.

You could also try creating a prop box in your house and fill it with all sorts of items, such as an old phone, plastic cutlery and crockery, toy animals, dressing up clothes and blankets.

Here’s some toy suggestions you can also buy to use as props:

Toy Tea Party Set
Price: £8.99
Amazon

Description

This 36 piece plastic tea set is suitable for children aged 3+ and even comes set with some

Toy Tea Party Set

imaginative play pretend money
Price: £7.50
AmazonAmazon Prime

Description

You don't have to invest in a whole till set for your tot to engage in a game of 'shops', some

imaginative play pretend money

imaginative play doctors kit
Price: £10.42
AmazonAmazon Prime

Description

Inside this compact case your toddler will find nine pieces of medical equipment so they can nurse

imaginative play doctors kit

imaginative play white board
Price: £19.99
Amazon

Description

Whether it's playing schools or shops, a whiteboard is the perfect imagine play prop, not to

imaginative play white board

imaginative play superheros
Price: £17.99
AmazonAmazon Prime

Description

Your toddler and friends can save the day by becoming their favourite superhero. Inside the pack

imaginative play superheros
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