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