Number one has become quite chatty. I hear her jabbering away to herself, the dogs and most often her toys. She even talks to imaginary friends and scolds me if I don’t lay a place for them at the table.
Should I be worried that she earnestly believes there are other (invisible) people in the room? Apparently not. According to this piece on imaginary play and another one by educational psychologist Sheryl Cohen on the use of symbolic props, the world of make-believe is not just a playful game, but essential to a growing child’s development.
Thinking outside the box
The cardinal rule for encouraging fantasy play? Keep things simple and let little imaginations do the rest.
Cardboard boxes are ideal story starters. Uncomplicated and (usually) easy to find, they can be swiftly transformed from boring brown to ‘wow wee’ beautiful. Think big boxes for cars, boats and houses; smaller shoe boxes for drums, fairy gardens and masks; and even smaller options like empty egg boxes for noses, beaks and googly eyes (grrrowl!).
For some super-colourful box-clever inspiration, check out My Little House.
