| Anyone who has children or can remember his | | | | games. |
| or her own childhood days is familiar with | | | | |
| the concept of pretend play, which is a type | | | | Pretend play can come in many forms. Young |
| of activity where a young child begins to | | | | boys will frequently engage in such activity |
| role play. Typically emerging in the second | | | | as pretending to be warriors, carpenters, |
| year of life, such imaginative play may be | | | | truck drivers, and football players. In the |
| much more than just an amusing activity for | | | | hands of an imaginative youngster a broom |
| toddlers. Some research has suggested that | | | | handle becomes a sword, a paper towel roll |
| role playing may be an important | | | | can be a hammer, and so on. Likewise, little |
| developmental milestone in small children and | | | | girls often engage in such forms of play by |
| may assist in the development of cognitive, | | | | playing with dolls and doll houses. Doll |
| verbal, and social skills. | | | | houses are particularly strong outlets of |
| | | | pretend play since they allow the child to |
| Many parents may experience frustration when | | | | have complete control over a mini universe. |
| their child shows little or no interest in | | | | The child with a doll house can rearrange |
| learning to count, to sing the alphabet, and | | | | furniture, cook dinner, put the baby to bed, |
| other academic prerequisites that they will | | | | and do all of the activities that she |
| need in the upcoming years. Especially | | | | observes her parents do every day. |
| frustrating is their tendencey to avoid all | | | | |
| instruction in favor of pretending to be | | | | Roll playing and other sorts of imaginative |
| monsters, superheroes or even people they | | | | games are a vital component of the education |
| know. Parents can be reassured that | | | | of any young child. He or she uses such play |
| imaginative play is not merely an idle | | | | time not simply for idle fancy, but as a way |
| endeavor with no redeeming values; indeed, | | | | to understand societal roles, relationships, |
| experts are now saying that the ability to | | | | and his or her place in the world. Key |
| roll play and pretend may be more important | | | | cognitive and communication skills depend |
| than the ability to count or recite the | | | | upon the ability to successfully roll play, |
| alphabet at such a young age. Playing | | | | so parents should encourage such activities. |
| imagination games helps the young brain order | | | | Of course, it is also important for parents |
| the world around him or her and teaches the | | | | to read to young children and introduce them |
| young child how to empathize and interact | | | | to numbers, shapes, colors, and letters. |
| with others. Instead of trying to redirect | | | | However, academic learning must share time |
| the child's energy into activities that they | | | | with imaginative play to ensure that the |
| deem more constructive, parents should | | | | child continues to develop successfully. |
| instead encourage and participate in such | | | | |