Back to Basics- Become a Superhero!

My daughter just brought a blanket to me and told me she wanted to be a superhero! I tied it around her neck and off she went, "flying" around the room.

So often we forget the kids just like to play, to pretend, and that it does not take fancy toys to make them happy. Make sure to give your child the opportunity to just play with unsuspecting items. Even if it is not a toy, it can become a superhero cape, a wand, or another spectacular new creation. Give them the opportunity to have some fun, without batteries!

It Is Amazing What Can Be Fun!

My son's new favorite activity is role playing that he is driving our car. In Florida, right now, the weather is good and he can get up in the SUV and pretend he is driving, without moving the gear shifter. He has also convinced my husband to let him move the gear shifter when we get into the drive way, parked. He gets out, climbs up front, and puts the car in park. He knows what all the letters mean and can tell you how Mommy holds the gear shifter and Daddy holds it- he is very observant!

Role playing is great for kids to pretend they are something else- even if it is Mommy and Daddy- since those are the most favorite people in the world. Make sure your child has opportunities to role play- just maybe not out in the car (like we will be avoiding when the weather gets too hot!).

Pretend Play for Preschoolers

Pretending is so important, I have probably blogged about it before! Right now, my preschooler is pretending his left over pizza is a birthday cake (he even remembered his Daddy's cake from last year). He went outside and got some candles (sticks) and put them on his cake. My husband said he normally would not let him play with his food, but he is done eating and he has a good story going.

He now has sang Happy Birthday to his daddy and will not let daddy sing. It is his birthday.

Not only is it cute, it is very good for brain development. Also, pretend play correlates with reading. Learning to read it assigning an abstract sound to a shape (letter). Pretending a pizza with sticks on it is a birthday cake is assigning a role to an object that is not the right role.

It is the same process. So encourage pretending, even if it means playing with the food!