Pretend Play

36+ Months Tips for Parents

Pretend Play

Why is imaginative play important?

When it comes to imaginative play, the sky's the limit. First your tot's favourite ride-on is a racing car. Next, it's a helicopter taking flight (right through your living room). Make-believe might seem like it's all fun and games, but pretend play helps your tot build BIG thinking skills.

Our guide explains how toddlers' storytelling amps up their cognitive skills (from playing shops that sell unicorns) and fast-tracks their decision-making and problem-solving (like flying into space in a cardboard box).

Looking for ways to bring your toddler’s imagination to life? Fasten your seatbelt and read on.

Storytelling: pretend play sets

Pretend play helps develop cognitive skills. It all starts by setting a scene. Your toddler loves to invent tall tales – whether that's whizzing through your living room in a helicopter or charging about on a unicorn. Their stories come to life with characters too. Toys let your tot interact with a world of friends, foes, goodies and baddies. Imaginext® playsets are perfect for helping your mini tell their own story.
Bring storytime to life with Imaginext® playsets

Benefits: building social skills

Imaginative play is your preschooler's way of developing new social skills. When the knight saves the princess (or the witch, frog or fireman), that's the storyteller building empathy. In other words, they're learning how to co-operate and walk in someone else's shoes. Playing different roles helps them understand different perspectives. This will set them up well when they make their big debut on the school playground.

Imaginative play for toddlers: what do they like?

Will your mini prefer to play as a pirate or a dinosaur? Wizard or deep-sea diver? Pretend play helps them to decide what they like. Let them explore their interests while developing crucial decision-making skills for later in life. They'll do it all while having fun in adventures of their own making.

Check out dinosaur action figures

Benefits: building social skills

Imaginative play is your preschooler's way of developing new social skills. When the knight saves the princess (or the witch, frog or fireman), that's the storyteller building empathy. In other words, they're learning how to co-operate and walk in someone else's shoes. Playing different roles helps them understand different perspectives. This will set them up well when they make their big debut on the school playground.

Imaginative play for toddlers: what do they like?

Will your mini prefer to play as a pirate or a dinosaur? Wizard or deep-sea diver? Pretend play helps them to decide what they like. Let them explore their interests while developing crucial decision-making skills for later in life. They'll do it all while having fun in adventures of their own making.

Check out dinosaur action figures

Sparking imaginative play

As we've seen, imaginative roleplay has lots of benefits for growing toddlers. You can help your mini get the most from pretend play by asking questions, encouraging problem-solving, asking what happens next, letting your tot take charge, all of the above will inspire your little one to develop great new skills from their make-believe storytelling action.
Soar over to the superhero action figures

Benefits of pretend play: imagine what's next

You can boost your tot's development by joining in the imaginative fun. It's not always easy for grown-ups to engage in pretend play for hours (and hours... and hours) on end. Still, with a little imagination and some creative thinking (like "this magic broom chases away pesky dust bunnies"), you can join in on the fun

– while still getting stuff done.

Discover all products from 24 - 36 Months

Pretend Play Toys

Playsets, Figures & Accessories

Toddler & Preschool Toys

2-4 Years

Last Updated Dec 11, 2023

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