MAKE TIME
FOR PLAY
TIME
By Jaci Mouser
Making time to play every day is more important for a child’s development than one may think. As parents,
you can feel confident that you are providing a rich learning opportunity simply by initiating and interacting in
play activities with your children.
Do you remember your first lesson in “how to play?” Of course not! Similar to laughing or crying, knowing
how to play comes naturally. Although the act of play is instinctual, it is still crucial for parents to interact in
playtime. When parents play along, they are helping their children advance developmentally.
Learning occurs in all areas of early development as young children play. Social skills and fine motor skills as
well as creativity and imagination are all developed while having fun at play.
Cultivate imagination by encouraging pretend play and make-believe activities. Remember how easy it
was to pretend as a child? Playing is an instinct of nature that stimulates awareness and self-discovery.
Sometimes children need a little extra nudge when it comes to pretending and that is okay. Join in the fun,
Mom and Dad, and make believe together.
Stay in character and pretend right along with them. Add to the story and the imaginary surroundings by
adding your own elements of make-believe to playtime. When you are part of their story, you’re helping to
cultivate imagination and lengthen the attention span to engage in meaningful play for longer periods of
time.
TIPS TO PROMOTE IMAGINATIVE PLAY
From Kathleen Alfano Ph.D.
1. Provide a collection of dress-up props for role-play.
2. Look at the clouds and take turns imagining what they resemble.
3. Plant seeds for imaginative thinking by reading lots of books together.
4. Provide toys that encourage creativity and imagination.
5. Make up stories with your child, building on each other’s additions.
6. Arrange play dates with others to foster social and imaginative play.
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