My 3 year old's princess diaries

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah, 30-Jun-2011

My Indian Princess

Pretend play tops Ayanna's list of things to do. On most days she's a princess  - one day she slips into her Indian pavadai (skirt and short top) and transforms into an Indian princess; the next day she dons a crown and gown and twirls around like a ballerina. Any toy or household item can turn into a prop - a spatula can magically transform into a wand that she waves around as a fairy. Some days she loves playing teacher.

Pretend play becomes more complex and interactive at this age. Children learn by doing and imagining. When they engage in pretend play, they are in control of the character and have the freedom to explore and navigate through a different world.

As parents - we encourage and even participate in pretend play. Some days I'm queen; other days I play the student (while she the teacher) and sometimes, baby kitty (while she's mama kitten).

Encourage your preschooler to have an active imagination as it :

- improves vocabulary

- helps kids take control of situations

- helps them solve problems

How do you encourage your child's imagination?