In imaginative play, your child pretends to be another person. This happens naturally during his play as he acts out situations for pure enjoyment.
As you think of planning suitable imaginative play for your child, you should think about how he needs to be encouraged to communicate such as...
Listening
Looking...understanding what is being communicated through body language, such as the nod of the head or a smile
Talking...being talked to and talking with you or other people
Writing and drawing - provide examples of signs, marks etc. Provision of paper and pencils will encourage him to communicate by putting marks on paper.
Examples of Child-Led Imaginative Play
Books and stories
Sand and water play
Painting and drawing
Play dough
Small world play such as play Mobil or lego
Puppets or dolls
** A hat is one of the most essential parts of an imaginative play. By offering your child a box of variety of hats he will be able to role play many different characters. **
Creating a Home Corner to Encourage Imaginative Play
Resources that should be provided to reflect other cultures include...
Clothes and hats
A range of cooking utensils
Artefacts, such as furniture
Points to consider when setting up a Home Corner
Resources should reflect a multi-cultural society and help your child to recognise, understand and value the differences between them
Explain the reasons for resources supplied so that he gets an understanding of them
Provide dressing-up clothes that do not specify gender...for example a female police officer or a female fireman.
Safety of Equipment
You should make sure that all equipment provided is safe for your child to use. You should check it regularly before your allow him to use it and should be repaired or replaced when necessary. If possible all equipment should comply with the required safety standards.
Remember that...
Clothes should be kept on hangers and regularly cleaned and mended
Equipment must be checked for rough or sharp edges
Beads and necklaces should be safely strung and not made from materials such as seeds or glass that could be swallowed easily.
Children with Special Needs
Always consider a child with special needs when setting up an imaginative play area. A child in a wheelchair will need plenty of space, while a child with visual impairment may need textured and brightly coloured equipment.
