Dramatic play and pretend play are important methods of sparking imagination in early childhood settings.
In a recent series of resources, the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) discusses how dramatic play helps children to build language and social-emotional and problem-solving skills while making learning joyful.
Similarly, pretend play helps young children to process emotions, build resilience and social skills, and support positive mental health while encouraging creativity and imagination. When children take part in story dramatization and pretend play, they gain skills in self-regulation, executive functioning, and literacy skills.
The IECMHC provides tips on how teachers should support and encourage pretend and dramatic play - such as using open-ended questions that encourage children to develop, expand, and share their play ideas and stories - as well as utilize prop boxes, culturally responsive themes, and seasonal ideas to spark imagination and learning.
The resources include: