Make the Most of Make-Believe
Find the tools to inspire imaginative play.
When your child says "Let's pretend," she's on the road to self-discovery, using her imagination to help learn essential life skills. Playing "Hospital" or "Firehouse" with friends teaches her how to cooperate and communicate with others, while a solo game of "House" offers practice in managing a home and caring for a family. Pretend play also helps her explore emotions and develop a sense of security. Inspire her self-expression by providing an assortment of goods that give her the freedom to let her mind take her anywhere she wants to go.
Buying Basics
Parent's Checklist
Developmental Edge
Extending the Fun
Choosing Toys That Are Just Right
The key to inspiring imaginative play is stocking your playroom with a wide variety of toys that encourage dramatic play and creativity. Start with dress-up clothes — combining your own cast-offs with child-size outfits like princess gowns, super hero capes, firefighter hats, and assorted accessories. Shop for sets that model real-life, like doctor kits and tea sets. Puppets, dolls, stuffed animals, and action figures are a must, and toy instruments will bring out his inner-Mozart. Child-size kitchens, laundry rooms, playhouses, and puppet stages offer hours of open-ended play. Try a collapsible pop-up tent that your child can convert into a workshop one day, and a mini-theatre the next. Finally, stock your shelves with plenty of art supplies so he can enhance fantasy worlds with his own artistic creations.
Before buying, see how your selection rates by running it through our parent checklist:
Is this age-appropriate for my child?
First, check that the toy is safe for your child and that it is the right size. Then think about how it fits the general interests of her age group. For example, most preschoolers love toys that help them imitate household life, while kindergarten and 1st graders are often more interested in ones that center on careers and community. Older elementary schoolers are developing specific interests and strong friendships, so props that target particular hobbies and invite cooperative play are popular.What skills will my child learn?
The best toys for pretend play are open-ended — offering your child the tools to enter a fantasy world without telling her what to do when she gets there. Make-believe toys are also ideal for preparing your youngster for new experiences. Try giving your son a medical kit to demystify an upcoming trip to the doctor's office. If your little one's heading off to kindergarten, a model schoolhouse can make her first day feel familiar.Will this toy appeal to my child's interests?
Buy him props that will help him imagine his dreams. Does he want to be a firefighter? Love music? When possible, look for versatile toys that he can use different ways, such as stacking bowls that work as cooking pots or magic toadstools.Does this fit in our household?
Keep in mind where you're going to store the toy. Do you have room to leave a playhouse up all the time? Does the toy invite cooperative play or is it best for solo time? Is it a noisy toy that's better suited to outdoor play?Will this toy last?
Look for quality and durability. They'll need to stand up to heavy use and you don't want to restrict play in order to preserve a fragile toy.
The Developmental Edge
Kids of different ages play pretend, but it takes on many different forms. Check out our list to help you choose the right props for your child.
Preschoolers — Exploring Life at Home
Dress-Up Outfits, Household Playthings, Puppets, Stuffed Animals & Dolls, Toy Musical Instruments, Pretend Kitchens & Workshops, Simple Arts & Crafts SuppliesEarly Schoolers — Learning About Community
Dress-Up Clothes & Accessories, Dolls & Action Figures, Toy Buildings & Playsets, Blocks, Legos, and Beginning Construction Sets, Arts & Crafts Kits- Elementary Schoolers — Practicing Life As a Grown-Up
Science & Magic Kits, Career-Focused Play Sets, Dollhouses, Action Figures and Accessories, Kid-Sized Tools, Sports Equipment
You're never too old to pretend! Let your child guide the action, and follow along. When she's playing with friends, offer to help set the table for the tea party, sing backup for the band's performance, or become a pirate that makes kids walk the plank. Develop her storytelling and language skills by asking her who, what, and where questions.
- Make pretend play an event! Invite your child's friends over for a teddy bear tea party with each kid bringing a plush guest, or a super-hero super-soaker party where his friends come dressed as their favorite characters and stage an epic water battle.
