Fantasy Play  

(Pretend play)

Page 14

This type of play requires the use of the imagination. The dramatic play area is often the most thought of area for fantasy or pretend play.

This area provides opportunities for children to:

• Overcome gender stereotypes
• Let children experiment with life in different cultures
• Help children better understand people with special needs
• Help children learn about themselves

Children benefit in many ways from participating in fantasy play. From this type of play, children grow cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.  

Children’s roles range from babies to parents to astronauts. Their imaginations allow them to act out what they cannot yet be in real life. During this type of play, children make decisions and choices. By doing so, they learn problem-solving skills. Language concepts are also developed as children engage in play. They learn new names for equipment, and gain new ideas from other children. As they generate plots and storylines, language skills, creativity, and imagination are fostered. 

Physical development is promoted through the play actions of children: sweeping floors, dressing dolls, and pretending to paint furniture. Building structures that enhance dramatic scenes also helps develop physical skills. 

Many school age children enjoy planning and putting on their own plays and shows. School age staff can provide writing materials for budding playwrights and books about creative drama activities and short plays. Children will make good use of props and dress-up clothes. 

Older school age children may involve younger ones in their productions, or they may put together a show, and then perform it for the whole group. Writing a script, providing background music and creating elaborate costumes can all be part of their play. Such projects may last from an afternoon to several weeks. 

​Social and emotional development are promoted through socio-dramatic play. Children try out different social roles. Sometimes negative feelings and situations that disturb children are acted out. Through these experiences, children learn about human relationships. They learn what kind of behavior upsets another child .They learn how to get along with others and discover important social skills. As a result, they gradually learn how to balance their play to satisfy and please others. 

Optional Resource for Further Study

• Enchanted Learning: The Benefits of Fantasy Play for Children. Not Just Cute with Amanda Morgan. 
  
• The Importance of Pretend Play in Child Development. Bright Horizons Family Solutions. 

Course Navigation Menu

1. Course Agenda
​2. Discussion: Play  
3. Defining Play
4. DAP
5. Cooperative Play
6. Hula Hoop Activity  
7. Independent Play
8. Supporting Play
9. Jellyfish Painting Activity 
10. Active Play

11. Giraffe Legs Activity 
12. Constructive Play
13. Look Out Below 
14. Fantasy Play 
15. Worm Retelling 
16. Rule-Based Play
17. Pirate Hook Ring Toss 
18. Ages and Stages
19. Discussion: Ages &  Stages 
20. Unstructured Play

21. Structured Play Vs Unstructured 
22. Play Through the Ages
23. 5-6 Years: Early School Age Children
24. 5-6 Year Old’s 
25. 7-8 Years: Early School Age Children
26. 7-8 Year Old’s 
27. 9-12 Years: Early School Age Children
28. Discussion: Play
29. End of Course Quiz 
30. Course Evaluation Form
​Parking Lot