| As the saying goes, 'play is a child's work'. | | | | disagree about who gets to be the teacher or |
| Research has shown that, with the exception of | | | | who will wear the red hat, they're actually |
| children who are very disadvantaged or severely | | | | developing important problem solving skills. When |
| disabled, between 3% and 20% of children's time | | | | they combine their ideas to develop the events |
| and energy is typically spent in play. | | | | of their play, they are creating their own |
| That's a big part of your child's day. | | | | narrative. The research shows that a child who |
| Pretend play is what kids do to learn about their | | | | has these skills is typically more able to reproduce |
| world and understand how to interact with the | | | | them when they reach the more formal learning |
| people and things that are in it. | | | | environment of a structured pre-school or school. |
| While it might look simple, there's actually quite a | | | | You can encourage your child's storytelling and |
| lot happening when children use their imaginations | | | | social play by helping your child to develop |
| to engage in their fantasy world. | | | | relationships with neighbours, pre-school |
| Problem solving, skill building, language | | | | classmates and other friends. |
| development, overcoming physical and mental | | | | But when organising co-operative play activities |
| challenges, it's all going on behind the scenes when | | | | for your children, remember that kids do not |
| kids engage in pretend play. | | | | simply learn the conventions of play by osmosis |
| So what can parents do to encourage the | | | | when you throw them out into the backyard or |
| development of their child's play skills? | | | | park together! |
| Encourage Imaginative Play | | | | Sometimes, in order to play successfully, kids will |
| Children begin 'pretend play' at around the age of | | | | need to learn the skills and behaviours required for |
| two. It's at this point that they are learning that | | | | the game from you first. |
| one thing can symbolise another. For example, a | | | | This might mean that you model the role of |
| box can become a cubby house or a couple of | | | | 'shopkeeper' selling a variety of imaginary vegies |
| pots and pans can become a drum set. | | | | and fruit to your 'customers', or 'doctor' to your |
| Imaginative play also involves taking on new roles, | | | | 'patients' who bring their dolls and teddies to you |
| for example a superhero, teacher or even a | | | | for a check up. Once your children have learned |
| mummy or daddy. | | | | the play behaviours that are expected, you can |
| Pretend play builds your child's understanding of his | | | | withdraw gently and observe unobtrusively until |
| or her world. For example, you may witness a lot | | | | they are bored and need to move on to another |
| of nurturing play behaviour using dolls if your child | | | | activity. Eventually, your child will develop their |
| is getting used to having a new sibling and mimics | | | | own 'script' for this kind of pretend play and will |
| your interactions with a new brother or sister. | | | | be able to initiate this kind of activity with peers |
| Another favourite is to play 'schools', where | | | | without your involvement. |
| children enjoy taking on the part of the teacher | | | | Encourage language development |
| with their teddy bears in the roles of their | | | | We often tell children to 'use their words' when |
| 'students'. | | | | they are upset, frustrated or tired. |
| Imaginative play is important because gives your | | | | Long before children can express their feelings in |
| child a sense of control as he or she interprets | | | | words, they express them through pretend play, |
| everyday life around them. It helps your child to | | | | storytelling, art, and other activities. This means |
| practice behaviours and develop the language | | | | that your child's play might sometimes give you |
| needed for different situations. | | | | an indication of experiences that have been |
| You can encourage your child's imagination by | | | | hurtful or hard for your child to understand. |
| providing an easily accessible a box of everyday | | | | In this kind of situation, pretend play not only |
| items and practical toys for your child to use | | | | benefits the child by providing an opportunity to |
| during pretend play. | | | | talk through feelings, emotions and reactions, it |
| Tea sets, plastic food and fruit collections, dolls | | | | can also offer insights to you as a parent. |
| houses and building toys all help to facilitate | | | | You can help your child to develop the language |
| role-playing. Costumes, masks and kiddie versions | | | | needed to cope with situations by following your |
| of everyday tools like hammers, kitchen utensils | | | | child's lead during pretend play. |
| and telephones are also good for engaging your | | | | This technique, used by child psychologists, speech |
| child's creative mind. | | | | pathologists and teachers all over the world is one |
| Objects that can have more than one use, such | | | | that parents can easily master. All you need to do |
| as coloured blocks, will also stretch your child's | | | | is listen to your child, show you accept his or her |
| imagination with unlimited possibilities. | | | | make believe world and wait for an invitation to |
| Encourage Social Play | | | | join in. |
| As toddlers, children play side by side without | | | | Remember, the stories a child tells in their make |
| obvious communication. This is called 'parallel play' | | | | believe world gives him or her complete control - |
| and is typical of children aged between two and | | | | and this is important for learning. |
| four. During their preschool years, however, | | | | So, next time your son or daughter wants to |
| children start to interact with each other by | | | | play make believe - bolster his or her self-esteem |
| joining forces to create complex story lines | | | | and join in the fun. |
| together. This developing skill is one that wise | | | | The benefits of pretend play are huge, and by |
| parents nurture. | | | | sharing your child's interests and enjoyment, you |
| Creating stories through play is important for the | | | | are not only strengthening their trust in you, but |
| development of both social and language skills. | | | | also enhancing their understanding of the world |
| Through this kind of pretend play, children learn to | | | | around them. |
| negotiate, cooperate and share. When children | | | | |