Do you encourage your child to pretend play?

Remember your childhood days when you loved to pretend to be a queen a milkmaid or a bandit? There were times when you yearned for playing the role of a teacher or a mother. Likewise your child is likely to seek relief in a make-believe world.Remember your childhood days when you loved to pretend to be a queen, a milkmaid or a bandit? There were times when you yearned for playing the role of a teacher or a mother. Likewise, your child is likely to seek relief in a make-believe world. Your daughter might enjoy being the doctor on call. Or your son might mimic a television actor. Do not discourage such play activities. Recent research has proved that such pretend play boosts a childs creative imagination. It is said that when children ape the adults, they understand responsibility better. They know how it feels in the shoes of a disciplinarian. Watch your daughter putting her doll to sleep, and you will know how seriously children take the pretend play. Never mock or discourage such play. In this article What is the advantage of the makebelieve world? How to enhance the makebelieve play? Supply these props What is the advantage of the make-believe world? Not only does pretend play help a child to experiment with imaginary situations, but also it helps him or her play with words. It is a good pastime activity when children talk to themselves. They learn management of emotions like fear, disappointment, anger, jealousy and possessiveness. Pretend play gives them a chance to share, mimic, take turns, talk and boss around. How to enhance the make-believe play? You dont need to spend a fortune to nurture a childs imagination. Just provide for an environment in which imagination can flourish. Offer space, uninterrupted time and props. In the world of pretend play, a large cardboard box can be transformed into a stove, a castle, a car, or a dozen other things. A blanket draped over a few kitchen chairs can easily become a cozy house, a mysterious cave or a tent in the forest. The dining table can be made into a fortress. Puppets too provide children with an excellent avenue for their pretend play. A young child can easily handle finger puppets. Sometimes children use imaginative friends as their emotional counterparts. Dont spoil the fun of such imaginary friendship. It is just an outlet for a childs energy. Supply these props Do not embarrass your child during the pretend play. Instead provide these props for enhancing the pretend play, especially during their pre-school years. Make a dollhouse - put together a plastic or steel utensil set, small dolls, chairs, water in a saucer and some biscuits. Encourage your son to invite a make-believe group for a tea party. Let your little girl cook an imaginary dinner for the night. Grocery store - paper money, paper bags, empty juice cans, cereal boxes, some fresh vegetables and fruits. Doctors clinic some bandages, a torch, a toy patient (you can play along and become a patient whenever possible). Inexpensive doctors kits can be picked up from the market. In this way, your child will overcome fear of the doctor. Office setup - an old keyboard, play telephone, envelopes, pencil, pen, some used paper. Your child is all set to imitate daddy and mommy in office.

Remember your childhood days when you loved to pretend to be a queen a milkmaid or a bandit? There were times when you yearned for playing the role of a teacher or a mother. Likewise your child is likely to seek relief in a make-believe world.

Remember your childhood days when you loved to pretend to be a queen, a milkmaid or a bandit? There were times when you yearned for playing the role of a teacher or a mother. Likewise, your child is likely to seek relief in a make-believe world. Your daughter might enjoy being the doctor on call. Or your son might mimic a television actor. Do not discourage such play activities. Recent research has proved that such pretend play boosts a child's creative imagination. It is said that when children ape the adults, they understand responsibility better. They know how it feels in the shoes of a disciplinarian. Watch your daughter putting her doll to sleep, and you will know how seriously children take the pretend play. Never mock or discourage such play.

• What is the advantage of the make-believe world?

  Not only does pretend play help a child to experiment with imaginary situations, but also it helps him or her play with words. It is a good pastime activity when children talk to themselves. They learn management of emotions like fear, disappointment, anger, jealousy and possessiveness. Pretend play gives them a chance to share, mimic, take turns, talk and boss around.

• How to enhance the make-believe play?

  You don't need to spend a fortune to nurture a child's imagination. Just provide for an environment in which imagination can flourish. Offer space, uninterrupted time and props.
  In the world of pretend play, a large cardboard box can be transformed into a stove, a castle, a car, or a dozen other things. A blanket draped over a few kitchen chairs can easily become a cozy house, a mysterious cave or a tent in the forest. The dining table can be made into a fortress.
  Puppets too provide children with an excellent avenue for their pretend play. A young child can easily handle finger puppets.
  Sometimes children use imaginative friends as their emotional counterparts. Don't spoil the fun of such imaginary friendship. It is just an outlet for a child's energy.

• Supply these props

  Do not embarrass your child during the pretend play. Instead provide these props for enhancing the pretend play, especially during their pre-school years.
  Make a dollhouse - put together a plastic or steel utensil set, small dolls, chairs, water in a saucer and some biscuits. Encourage your son to invite a make-believe group for a tea party. Let your little girl cook an imaginary dinner for the night.
  Grocery store - paper money, paper bags, empty juice cans, cereal boxes, some fresh vegetables and fruits.
  Doctor's clinic some bandages, a torch, a toy patient (you can play along and become a patient whenever possible). Inexpensive doctors' kits can be picked up from the market. In this way, your child will overcome fear of the doctor.
  Office setup - an old keyboard, play telephone, envelopes, pencil, pen, some used paper. Your child is all set to imitate daddy and mommy in office.