Summary: Pretend play is an important way that children develop language, problem-solving, creativity, empathy, and social emotional skills. It is the foundation for adults who can “think outside the box” and use creativity in professional and personal settings. We talk about how you as the parent or caregiver of a young child can encourage and support the development of pretend play through your words and actions. In our discussion, we share how pretend play develops from a young child to an older child as well as outline a list of ways for you to help the child grow in their pretend play. These simple ideas create fun and playful interactions for you and your child while helping them to explore imaginative play.
