Learning Through Imagination Play

Whenever imagination play is taking place- no matter what you call it- dramatic play, fantasy play, or make-believe play- it is when the child is pretending to be someone or something else, there are significant cognitive processes occurring. The importance of pretend play is often underestimated. Pretend or dramatic play for early learners is not just about fun. “Imaginative play has the greatest impact on the development of key skills that are important for children’s success with peers,” explains Dr. Catherine Neilsen-Hewett, a lecturer and researcher in child development.

It fosters creativity while developing social, emotional, and language skills. Subsequently, through pretend play, your child learns to build positive relationships and express themselves.

1. Language Development

Imagination play centres around communication. Growing research confirms the role of imaginative play and the impacts it has on childhood language development. Listen to the little ones as they play- they love to narrate what’s is going on. The conversations had when playing enhance vocabulary and language skills. In an encouraging, high-quality play environment, children’s language skills can be increased.

2. Social Development

Children have a natural curiosity and way of play. Imagination play benefits them by helping them develop social skills. By interacting with others, they learn to take turns, share, and work together. Children start to understand relationships and how to change communication style based on the situation. They also have opportunities to experiment with social boundaries. As their understanding of social cues improves through play they become more connected, confident, and self-reliant. As a result, they build better relationships with those around them.

3. Emotional Development

During make-believe play, children practice caring for others and showing empathy. For example, when they participate in animal care or teaching pretend play, they learn how to be kind, gentle, and to help others. Children start to understand how to interact appropriately based on the feelings and emotions presented in the role play scenario.

4. Problem solving development

Creativity and innovation are required for strong problem-solving skills. Children learn better when they are given the opportunity to figure things out for themselves. Whether it is negotiation of who plays what character in a role-play or solving a puzzle with minimal help the process of allocating tasks, complications and resolutions means that the child is working with high-level problem-solving cognitions which can be transferred to real life problems. 

5. Increases Creativity

Creativity is instrumental for a person’s wellbeing and is a great way to reduce stress and express themselves. Imagination play stimulates a child increases their creativity. Without restrictions in imagination play a child can pretend to be anything or anyone. This increases their confidence and sense of wellbeing and lets them explore roles that may wish to aspire to for their future self.  When being able to explore new and exciting opportunities with imagination play a child’s creativity can soar thanks to seeing the world with new ideas and ways to solve problems.

6. Encourages Independence

As children interact with the world around them, they start to include what they have learned into their dramatic play. Children create stories, explore new ideas, and make their own rules when role playing and this encourages the freedom to take reasonable risks. These risks are essential to understanding cause and effect and are vital for increasing their independence and becoming a critical thinker.

The best part of imaginative play is that it is inclusive- everyone can join in. Increasing a child’s cognitive skills doesn’t have to be arduous, playing with them will improve their confidence, independence and communication skills.