Value of pretend play

City readers have long heard that play is important for a child’s growth but recent research and expert voices are now clarifying just how powerful pretend play can be in shaping young minds and behaviours.

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What might look like a child turning a cardboard box into a spaceship is not only delightful to watch but a cornerstone of cognitive, social and emotional development, say child development specialists and education researchers.

Pretend play usually emerges around toddler age and gains complexity through the preschool years as children begin to create narratives, take on roles and interact with others in shared imaginary worlds. In these moments, ordinary toys and simple props become tools for exploring complex ideas and emotions beyond the immediate environment. It is this imaginative layering that gives pretend play its deep developmental influence.

Experts say that one of the clearest benefits of pretend play is its link to language and communication skills.

Children involved in imaginative scenarios naturally expand their vocabulary, invent dialogue and learn how to express complex ideas and feelings. This unstructured storytelling fosters not only fluency but also narrative ability, which can support literacy and expressive language later in life.