Written by: Ms. Roopika S., Head, HSSW
What is pretend play?
When children are playing pretend they are playing ‘as if’ something or someone is real.
They are creating a situation where there is more going on that what is literally happening. For instances, a child might be placing a cup to the doll’s mouth and then lying the doll in a bed ‐ but to the child, the doll is alive and really drinking (and it might even burp) and when the doll is put in the bed, the doll is really sleeping – and so the child will have to wait until the doll wakes up. Pretend play has many names. Some of these names are: imaginative play, creative play, make‐ believe play, fantasy play.
Age: At a glance of 0-2: Two-year olds some- times lose sight of the line between fantasy and reality – even in their own pre- tending
At a glance of 3 - 4: The pretend play of 4 – year olds becomes more realistic and detail-oriented.
At a glance of 5 - 6: Pretending is social for kindergarteners, and interacting together is half the fun. By the age of nine, the child generally reduces pretend play, because by that age, logical thinking sets in.
Why? “Children use pretend play time to resolve conflicts and behaviour issues which they are unable to face in reality.” Is pretend play is a thinking skill? To pretend in play, children have to understand the meaning of what is happening.
‘In order to do this, there are 3 thinking abilities that are used very often in pretending. They are:
Children use objects and pretend they are something else (for example, the box is a bed),
Children attribute properties to objects (for example, the tea is ‘hot’ or the teddy is ‘sleeping’ or the truck is ‘fast’),
Children refer to invisible objects (for example, they travel in bus, or car (but the bus is invisible)).
What is the importance of Pretend play?
Language skills
Social skills
Enhance imagination leads to creativity
Encourages expression of feeling
Self- control
Problem solving skills
Educational comprehension
What is the Benefit of Pretend play?
There are four primary areas under which children learn and develop through pretend play. They include:
Intellectual – increase in skills such as problem solving, negotiating, creativity, organising and planning, retelling familiar stories, application of newly gained knowledge, and mathematics.
Physical – increase in skills such as gross and fin motor development, fitness, strength, and coordination. Social – development of skills such as sharing, taking turns, cooperation, negotiation, impulse control, delay gratification, and deal with disappointment.
Emotional – increase in self-esteem, pride and accomplishment, feeling of safety and protection, development of sense of self and individuality, and feelings or purpose.
Do’s:
- Check the material they use in pretend play
- Monitor the concept of the game – no harm or hurt
- Keep way your judgments and prejudices
Don’ts:
- Don’t lock the room where they pretend play
- Never ridicule or make fun during pretend play
Popular Types of Pretend Play Toys They Prefer:
Boys - Dump trucks, toolboxes, fire engines, cars and trucks, police and soldiers
Girls -Action figures Dolls and dollhouses, kitchens, barbecues, medical sets, princess costumes, Babies.
Both - Occupational costumes, playhouses, puppets, robotic, pets, musical instruments and railroads
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