As babies grow and become more aware and capable of seeing and recognizing us, we start to transition from singing, smiling, and talking to them, to actually playing. As children’s brains develop, pretend play is introduced as a way for babies to understand and mimic behaviors.
When we say “Pretend Play” we are specifically talking about games that are us “pretending”. We can pretend to feed a doll or stuffed animal. We can pretend that doll or stuffed animal then needs burped or a diaper change. We can pretend that they are crying and need hugs and kisses before pretending to put them to sleep. All of these types of pretending are activating areas of our baby’s brain and created connections.
What is the importance of Pretend Play?
The Importance of pretend play is actually quite wide. Our brains use the created imagination and scenarios to problem solve, world build, and emotionally attach. If we are pretending to feed, burp, rock, and put a doll to sleep, baby is learning several key things.
Create Connections
Firstly, they can make connections that this is what we do with babies. This is how we care about something, this is how we treat things, this is how we love. Obviously, they aren’t capable of understanding what ‘love’ or ‘care’ is yet, but the association is starting to be created. By showing them a pretend play with gentle hands, they will learn to use gentle hands.
Build Understanding
Secondly, they are going to learn that mom, dad, or whoever is pretending this way, is a source for this. Obviously, a child will know that you feed them and care for them based on the experience, but watching you connect with something other than them and give those same experiences to something else can help them understand that relationship from a different viewpoint.
World Building Skills
Thirdly, it will help them form their own world building skills. Children learn by watching us. So they from the experience of having it done for them, and watching you pretend to do it for dolly, they will start to understand key things required to make this type of play successful. If they want to feed the baby, they will need what? A utensil or a bottle to feed them. If we are going to burp them, who do what? Put them on our shoulder and pat their back. If we are going to put them to sleep, they’ll need what? A crib or bed and blanket for tucking them in.
Your child will start accumulating the things necessary to create their own play. And if they are doing this, they are not just creating the connections of all of these items, but they will also be connecting these items to words, motor functions, and emotions.
Pretend Play leads to Real Life.
The importance of pretend play at a young age will start to build up as they get older. Like with anything you teach your child as a baby, they will use those skills and activities to build on later in their development. When imagination is present, we are actually also teaching problem solving skills and creativity. Let’s say we help associate an orange ball with an orange that we eat. We pretend with baby that our orange ball can be peeled and snacked on. This skill from an orange ball to the orange fruit is going to grow. This association is going to turn into broader associations as they get older, and their understanding of foods and toys broadens with them. They will be capable of playing with blocks and pretending it’s a loaf of bread, strawberries, and cupcakes. They may not have a toy or food actually available for them to pretend with, but they will be capable of taking it a step further and using a different object instead. These brain functions are exception when creating little minds. And that is where the importance of pretend play lies, not just in the understanding of the world around them, but by also using these things for them to learn about themselves.
Pretend play isn’t usually shown in children until around a year to two years old. So in order to prepare them for this type of interaction, play with them with you leading the pretend scenarios and help them understand connections to words, objects, and actions.
If you’re already past a year old, don’t worry! It’s never too late to start playing with your child like this and getting them on the track to a big imagination!