Play in general has many benefits. It is regarded as one of the more crucial roles in a child’s development, teaching creativity, social skills and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, it has an influence on how a child develops physically, socially, cognitively and emotionally. Most forms of play come naturally to children as they are considered innately curious. As they grow, their interests change and their play begins to align with their social intelligence and level of peer interaction.

One aspect of play that doesn’t usually happen until, at minimum, toddler years is pretend play, also known as imaginative play. Well-named, this play happens when a child begins to perform pretend actions and create imaginary scenarios. The benefits of this type of play can come in the form of increased language development, and social and cognitive skills. Dressing up in a costume allows a child to take an abstract concept and make real-life applications. They immerse themselves in different roles such as doctor, firefighter, princess or mermaid. They use words related to their roles like “students” if they play a teacher or “medicine” if they play a doctor leading to an increased vocabulary. Playing with another child allows them to take on individual roles in a single scenario and work together, increasing problem-solving skills.

All in all, encouraging imaginative play will aid your child’s development in an infinite number of ways. Halloween can provide the perfect opportunity to allow for creativity, exploration, and fun. With it just a few weeks away, we wish you a safe and happy Halloween!