In her latest Nanny Diaries column, Emma Appleton focuses on the importance of role play in child development
Nanny Emma Appleton explains how children as young as 12 months old can benefit from role play games.
One of my little charges has an intense love of pretend play. Also known as role play.
She loves to play with kitchens, baby dolls, prams or miniature houses.
She loves a pretend vacuum cleaner or a washing machine, a brush and dust pan.
She loves dressing up, as a princess or a lion or just “a lady going shopping”. (With a hat and a bag, naturally)
She much prefers this to the rough and tumble of a soft play.
All children are different and unique and enjoy different things.
Yet role play is something I think we should encourage more.
Because while we think that a child just loves their dolls or their monster trucks, what they’re actually doing is developing their brain.
Role play supports children’s development in so many ways.
Playing pretend games encourages language, emotional development and social skills. It builds empathy and, as our children get older, with the right tools (or toys), role-play can support emotional regulation and even cultural awareness.
To be frank, playing pretend games ticks almost every child development Box.
The world is a vast and complex place for a small child. But role play helps them to navigate it.
If you need further encouragement there is science to back this.
Role play activates the neural pathway in a child’s brain: the amygdala and hippocampus to be exact! These are the regions responsible for social understanding and emotional processing, which are vital for life.
So how can you encourage your child in role play?
Well first up, you need the right tools, or resources, also known as TOYS!
Start early. At about 12 months you can begin with imitations of household items. A tea set with spoons or anything kitchen-related is always a hit.
You can encourage nurturing and empathy with a baby doll.
At 12 months upwards look to the outdoors for your inspiration. A car, a gardening set.
Then once their world opens up a little bit more, a doctors set, a tool kit.
Give them time to play. Play WITH them. Children need an adult to mirror so show them HOW to play.
Then step back and watch and imagine all those sparks in their little head creating knowledge and experiences that will shape their life.