| Imaginative play is crucial to your child's | | | | A play kitchen could lead to months of |
| social and intellectual development. | | | | pretend cooking. A firetruck can provide |
| Creativity, empathy , problem solving and | | | | hours of entertainment playing "fireman." A |
| social constructions all begin here. By | | | | tea set can become a full house party. But, |
| promoting and encouraging your child's | | | | whether it's an expensive high-tech go-kart |
| imagination, you are providing the building | | | | or a simple, wooden push-car, props not only |
| blocks of healthy, normal behavior. | | | | contribute to imaginative play, but can also |
| | | | help get things started. Sometimes, the |
| Though imaginative play is often unstructured | | | | simpler the toy, the better. |
| play, that doesn't mean there aren't | | | | |
| particular toys or props that can encourage | | | | The use of props also extends to costumes. |
| and spark your child's imagination. | | | | Playing "dress-up" can mean anything from a |
| | | | paper hat to a purchased costume, but it all |
| One crucial distinction is that between "open | | | | contributes to healthy social development. |
| ended" toys and "licensed" toys. A "licensed" | | | | Role playing allows your child to work their |
| toy is pre-defined, one based on a television | | | | imagination, practice social scenarios, solve |
| character or a popular movie. Your child is | | | | creative problems, and work co-operatively |
| told how to play with it and in what manner | | | | with their play partners. |
| the toy should be used. Essentially, the | | | | |
| toy's use and your child's imagination are | | | | The key to finding the right props or toys is |
| immediately constricted and undermined. | | | | to choose items at the right level. A 6 |
| | | | year-olds' complex imaginative play scenarios |
| On the other hand, "open ended" toys allow | | | | could be way beyond the ability or interest |
| your child to construct their own play | | | | of a toddler, just as a basic game of |
| parameters. Examples of "open ended" toys | | | | peek-a-boo holds little interest for that |
| might be clay, wooden blocks, nondescript | | | | same toddler. |
| dolls or simple props not tied to television | | | | |
| or books. By offering up simple toys not tied | | | | If you're having trouble encouraging |
| down to someone else's idea of play, you will | | | | imaginative play in your child, then try |
| be encouraging your child's creativity, | | | | starting it yourself and beginning by |
| resourcefulness and competence. | | | | engaging your child with you. But, remember, |
| | | | it's your child's development, not yours so |
| Props are a good way to bolster imaginative | | | | let them take the lead when they're ready. |
| play and they provide a good starting point. | | | | |