preview

Social Roles By Imaginary Play

Decent Essays

When a child is asked what do they want to be when they grow up, they often respond with a firefighter, princess, ninja, or teacher. Kids explore and learn these social roles by imaginary play in classrooms, playrooms and in the home. No matter what make believe land this play is taking place, children are learning how to problem solve, cooperate with others, and think flexibly. The skills it takes to turn a pillow fort into a castle is extraordinary! When children are encouraged, rather than repressed, to use their imaginations while playing gives them opportunities to learn about themselves and the world, work out how to handle new situations, develop a higher order of thinking skills, and implement knowledge learned. In imaginary play, this is one of the first opportunities children have to explore what they like or dislike about interests or abilities. Experimenting with the role playing and making sense out of what is being learned in daily life is expressed in imaginary play. When children play with dolls, they often envision themselves as the doll which allows adults to see what they are directly observing and obtaining. New situations that might be considered scary—like getting shots at a doctor’s office—imaginary play is used to desensitize the situation. By engaging in make-believe play, it allows them to prepare and get comfortable with what is going on. Using imaginary play is highly beneficial for the emotional development of children. Pretend play

Get Access