When I think about my fondest memories of my early childhood, I remember my time working as a barista. My best customers were then a young couple that were pretty easy to serve. They would literally take whatever I gave them. Sand coffee, flour watery soup, plastic burgers, you name it!
Another career path that I loved experiencing was being a teacher, even if my alumni were very quiet and barely participated in the class.
Not to forget my mermaid days! It was just a seasonal summer job, but oh how I loved it!
Of course, the young couple I served were my parents, and I was four years old. My alumni didn’t interact because they were dolls, and the mermaid thing…well, maybe I still take the gig some summers.
Dr. Kathryn L. Keough from the Child Mind Institute, states that pretend play can strengthen kids' skills in several important development areas, such as :
-Creativity: Encourages children to use their imagination, invent stories and think creatively by transforming everyday objects and situations into new possibilities.
-Emotional and social skills: Children practice understanding different perspectives, expressing emotions, cooperating with others, and building empathy.
-Executive functioning: Strengthens skills such as planning, flexible thinking, memory, and decision-making as children create and follow imaginary scenarios and rules.
-Language and communication: Helps children expand their vocabulary, practice conversation, develop storytelling abilities, and improve listening and communication skills.
Another study from National Library of Medicine, finds that imaginative play plays a key role in raising self-confident, creative, and happy children.
For the little ones, you can see their character forming, their likes, their dreams, and maybe even give you a glimpse into the future. As a parent or caregiver, it helps you understand your child’s thought process in a way you wouldn’t have imagined.
Imaginative or pretend play are not just an essential part of childhood, but a core memory maker, both for the kids and the adults around them.
Sources:
https://childmind.org/article/the-power-of-pretend-play-for-children/