Monday, July 25, 2011

Pretend play and Kids


What is pretend play? Kids pretend play all the time. This is a learning experience, that each and everyone of us has gone through as a child. We role play what we see.


It always amazed me as a mother or when I used to work with per-schoolers, I used to stay back and listen to the conversation taking place when kids are playing. Have you ever done this?


Imagine you have set up a home corner..
  • maybe there is a doll house, or a play center…
  • some furniture
  • some little dolls
Who do you think the child would be role modeling in this instance?


Imagine if let say you are a family of four, mum dad, the child and a brother, you have a house with 2 bedrooms, a lounge and a bathroom, etc…may be you have a slide in the backyard…..Okay, now pretend you are the child. You will pick 4 dolls, one is going to be mum, another one dad and then one doll will be you and another your brother…you will also try and  choose some furniture, that reminds of what you have in your house, and then Pretend Play starts…..sometimes even if the child is by himself you hear them creating a conversation, one minute he is mum, then his dad etc. etc.


I find this amazing. This shows how much influence we have on our kids. Parents and carers are very important part in a child’s life. They will role play or pretend play, what they experience in their everyday life.


They will in a way give you an insight of what they are thinking, feeling  and experiencing. If a parent is wise enough, they should take this seriously, as they can get to know their children better.


You can extend this role play, with the selection of toys that you offer them. Change their home corner, every so often with different toys, and challenge them.


For example if you are going Camping..


camping set 350


…this little set is great to prepare them for this experience, you can talk about what they will expect, what you will be doing etc.

If you have a pet  at home this might create more pretend play


pet set 350


If you as a family spend a lot of time in the garden…these play sets…will be great!


outdoor setting350swing set

lgardening set

Two other exciting role play sets are these 2 gorgeous busy boxes…
  • Doctor/hospital Set
My hospital busybox350
  • Coffee Shop
My coffee shop busybox350

And the list goes on…you will find a variety of furniture sets, doll sets, doll houses and play centers  in store!

Do you encourage pretend play?




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68 comments:

Bernadine Murney said...

Playing is such an important part of being a child and as I discuss in my blog unfortunately these days things like the televison take away from this valuable time.  Your beautiful toys are so enticing that even I want to play

Marthese said...

Thank you @f485f08eae9424195a392f424718e59e:disqus yes I do agree with you there...I grew up without a TV, perhaps one of the reasons why I am so creative..Thank you for stopping by.

strawberry_lovemuffin said...

Hi Martese
I'm already on your e-newsletter list and didn't know you had a blog.  Thanks Naomi from Seven Cherubs for sending me here!
My three year old daughter is right in the thick of the "pretend fantasy stage" .  She partiularly loves dressing up as me and pretending to "go to work", complete with my high heels on!

C Surawski said...

beautiful toys!

Marthese said...

@google-e5449b940f205c982b8376b8142100aa:disqus Yes it can be lot of fun..listening to the conversation happening in the background...Good luck in the comp....!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY1)

Marthese said...

Thank you,@589cc6a84b21d74a81a7df84fd531dba good luck in your entry!

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY2)

wendyhatton said...

The dolls and furniture are delightful. I have a picnic set that is the favourite of my grand children. They always pack lunches and go visiting with animals and teddies when they come and stay with me.

Marthese said...

Thank you wendyhatton ....pretend play is fun....love to hear their conversations...Good luck:)

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY3)

Elizabeth said...

I love imagination and the stories that pretend play brings out - with those hint's of everyday truths in them :) 
I grew up with a dolls house made for me by my Grandfathers and would spend hours playing with it 'family' life.  It brought so much joy as I passed on the old house to my two young girls recently, to do it up and fill it with new furniture and a family.

Being Me said...

These are all so gorgeous and really make my heart swell.

My daughter sometimes forgets to lose herself in pretend play which I have been watching for some time now. I am trying to encourage it using things that interest her, but can only get involved to a point (she is quite sharp and knows if I am urging too much even if I'm barely suggestive!).

I am so excited that I have seen her imagination come to life recently with the wooden toys her kindergarten teacher has slowly been using to replace the plastic stuff. It has made me more determined to introduce more of the same here at home in an inadvertent way. I used to love toys like these as a child, which is over 30 years ago - nothing beats wood/natural play products, IMO! I love the idea for this give-away! Thank you for the opportunity, Marthese.

Kirrily @ Sunny Side Up said...

Oh no! Marthese, I left a long enthusiastic comment but it appears Disqus has decided not to publish it? (unless you moderate them before they appear??).

Anyway, I said that I do try to encourage my daughter in pretend play - she has a habit to remain very much in reality - but I have always noticed with interest that she responds best with natural/wooden toys. It's so interesting! So, thank you for this opportunity to enter Naomi's give-away. 

Marthese said...

You could not have described it any better @8f79705d0b28a511404a808010aaf6a5 ...so much enjoyment from pretend play...thank you for stopping by and good luck!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY4)

Marthese said...

You are welcome @700197312c43070a95eaab48166d59c3...kids fall into a stage at their own time...and sometimes it does not do them any good by forcing the issue, but there is other way  which is by encouraging and stimulating role play in their own time...
Good luck with your entry!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY5)

Marthese said...

I am pleased to tell you that I have your lovely comment....sometimes @disqus has a mind of it's own...but I still love using it as it gives you the facility of answering each comment individually....any way thank you for stopping by and good luck with your entry.

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY6) 

Leanne Farmer said...

Omg.. I can't wait for my princess to be old enough for these. I'm thinking third birthday??? Roll on May ;)

Crystal said...

Wow this doll furniture is extraordinary and just what I have been looking for, for over 20years. As a child of severe domestic violence, my dollhouse was my escape, my dream world where everyone was happy. My imaginary household was my daily sanctuary! I have my very special hardwood timber dollhouse which remains un-tenanted due to never being able to find suitable 'tenants and furniture'. Finally, some quality accessories for my sanctuary. I have 2 very young girls who I hope will delight in my dollhouse just as I did daily for many years (probably longer than I should have-hehe). Now that I have discovered these perfect additions I can delight in refurbishing it so my daughters can Create their own imaginary worlds just as their mother did in the past and their daughters can do in the future, such a special way to connect.

Emma said...

Pretend Play is amazing, children are able to role play scenarios from their own lives or head off in to a world of immagination!!!!

My daughter is just entering the phase where she is interested in pretend play - we have a dolls house built by her daddy and a family set of wooden dolls.  But no furniture or "props" as yet!! (unless you count the matchbox that we call a bed or the toilet roll which is everything atm!!)

How lovely of you to be offering a voucher!!  Whoever the lucky winner is will certainly be inspiring their child/ren to engage in immaginative play!!

Emma Wisby
emmandlukewisby@bigpond.com

Cate said...

Pretend play is vital- promotes oral language and problem solving skills.  A super prize!

Marthese said...

Yes it is great fun when they come to that age...good luck in your draw @8736e6c3814afcb01e814dbe6523a00b 

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY7)

Marthese said...

@fc2734f646aa15c01b833fe588e2176d:disqus like the "un-tenanted" :) I am sorry to hear about your experience, but yes pretend play, let us go into another world sometimes, and also helps us to express our feelings in our play.
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY8)

Marthese said...

Thank you @8834241c6b6c2c848368b2ef21c1361f:disqus for your lovley input...I totally agree with what you have said here...good luck in your draw and look forward to be of service to you in the near future.

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY9)

Marthese said...

Thank you @a2cd14e86a76d16479f8b6d47d690cf8 ...good luck in your the draw and great having you here.

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY10)

Jan Elizabeth Ecclestone said...

Love the tent and play ground equipment...even my grandsons would love these.

Alyce B said...

Gorgeous stuff! My 20mth old son has just started "serious" pretend play. He's done so with plastic food and cooking for a while now, but last night was pretending to squeeze soap out of the container and wash my hands with it! My 4mth old daughter is most definitely getting a doll house when she's older.... I want to play too, lol!

Kirsty said...

Ooh they are so cute!! We got our girls a dollhouse for christmas and they love it!! 

ClaireyHewitt said...

These are so needed here right now.

I had been looking for a doll house for my girls butnsome of the prices were just out of our budget.

I saw a great one at the op shop but couldn't carry it home, I went back and it was still there. $35 for a hard wood great doll house, but we have no furniture. Lucky we have lots of pretend play as the girls made the furniture out of paper and little boxes. They would be so happy with these dolls.

Marthese said...

Thank you Jan Elizabeth Ecclestone good luck in the draw and look forward to be of service to you in the near future...
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY11)

Marthese said...

It is lot's of fun when you see them actual pretend play...you can actual see what they are thinking through their role play. Thank you for stopping by Alyce B and good luck in the draw.
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY12)

Marthese said...

Thank you Kirsty ...great to hear from you...this can be great extension of play. ......good luck!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY13)

Marthese said...

That was a good buy ClaireyHewitt ..if you are after a package of furniture..this set that I have attached is on special at the moment and is a really great buy...http://romanticflairoriginal.com/shopcontent.asp?type=specials%20and%20giveaways 35% off

Good luck in the draw
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY14)

melanie whittle said...

My children (son and daughters) love to play with their doll houses they play for hours making any toy small enough their inhabitants even the odd dinosaur or two i know they would love some of the gorgeous funiture on offer   

Marthese said...

Thank you @twitter-105969924:disqus good luck in the draw...

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY15)

Faemum said...

i would love to enter the draw as recommended by you and Seven Cherubs. We have the smaller sized dollhouse set for a special nephew and just need a bathroom and extras now :) have two sets of your wooden fences for home as well .

Marthese said...

Good luck in the draw @7614b0578e4ecc28992d3871f99a2786  great to have you back here:)

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY16)

Bec said...

I'm stopping by after hearing about the competition at Seven Cherubs. I love pretend play. I have 2 boys and they love it too. Interestingly I find other mums of boys tend to leave them to it, but I spend a lot of time playing on the floor with my boys. My 4 year old's current favourite is MasterChef, where there's an audience, contestants and a challenge to complete in a matter of seconds!

Marthese said...

Thank you @83a750482330ebb093980612347488a4 for stopping by and good luck in the draw. I happened to be around when you commented, thank you for your input, I could not help think but this set would suit him to a "T", it is a great set, where it extends imaginative play for Master Chef and going to coffee shops or restaurants...
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY17)  

Abby Lee said...

My 3-year old loves pretend play and I love listening outside her bedroom while she chatters away.

krissy d said...

my 2 year old loves pretend play, tea parties are her current fave, although we are saving for a lovely wooden doll house :)

Marthese said...

That is gorgoeus @facebook-100001976096376:disqus  it is so great hearing them talk...and expressing themselves. Good luck in the draw and look forward to be of service to you in the near future....:)
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY18)

Marthese said...

Hi @e8c41b561b0a353f9911d9bf5b3d4603 thank you for stopping by here  as well...great to have you around...good luck...there is a range of doll houses in the doll house section.
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY19)

Cheree Robinson said...

Thanks @seven7cherubs:disqus for referring me over here..

I have 3 little girls and pretend play is what its all about in this house... Whether its with those horrid Barbie dolls or playing Mummys and Daddys and kids..... They even act as dogs and cats.

We <3 pretend play

Marthese said...

Hi Cheree Robinson ...good luck in the draw

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY20)

Deepa Vaish said...

I have been trying to buy a dolls house for my 3 year old on ebay but some were too big or too small, and also seems madding how much people are ready to pay for second hand toys, i was really excited to find a ready good dolls house with romantic flair exact size and type i been wanting to buy, and the best thing is not only its brand new but very affordable.

Marthese said...

Thank you @7b4f66df56155e7947509b06d1992e31 for your input...!

Toni Hill said...

These dolls and furniture are so very cute! Both my daughters would love to play with them! I bought a dolly house for them last year and needs some people to live in it! <3

Lori@RRSAHM said...

Awwww.... I love. I desperately want a dolls house for my Bump... maybe Santa will bring one ;)

Shelley said...

What a lovely giveaway! Id love to win this prize for my little boy :)

Linda Hynson said...

The best looking dolls i have seen in ages-is how i remember them looking:-)

Marthese said...

Good Luck @facebook-727143599:disqus 

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY21)

Marthese said...

Oh hi..@68ab700bb8f5c7d502c82a31b326ddf4 great to have you here :) good luck in the draw.....
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY22)

Marthese said...

@32d44ec8ec310b1eeeaa0cb0f26fb662 welcome and good luck in the draw...

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY23)

Marthese said...

@8f874a74811fbddf5ad07f503fbdc340 thank you for stopping by and thank you for your lovely comments...Good luck in the draw.
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY24)

Karen Edwards said...

Love these what a lovely prize my 2 babies would love them thank you.

Marthese said...

Thank you Karen Edwards good luck in the draw:)

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY25)

Caro Shanks said...

Pretend play and reading breed creativity that is often lacking in later life. Keep the fictitious world alive!!! 

Rebecca Smith said...

What gorgeous dolls and furnitures - my beautiful girl would fall in love with these. Would go perfectly with the new dollshouse that I just bought her.

Marthese said...

Hi @facebook-1365469565:disqus ...good luck in the draw

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY26)

Samantha_newton1993 said...

this would be perfect addition to my new little treasures world

Marthese said...

Hi @6e09d340775c552c1fdf716bcbb01cbe:disqus thank you for stopping and look forward to be of service to you in the near future....
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY27)

Megan said...

My 2, very imaginative, nieces would love these, so cute. 

Marthese said...

Caro Shanks,like your way of thinking.

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY26)

Marthese said...

Good luck @a6ad7a5c92ce0a813718cf5acddd1edd:disqus and thank you for stopping by!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY29)

Meljewel said...

being a mum with 5 children, these would be adored!

Marthese said...

Thank you @a54964e7b3583c23bd3e7838b9951010:disqus ....Yes I am sure they will be welcome! Good lick in the draw

Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY30)

Kat said...

These are adorable! I'm sure my niece will love to get her hands on one.

Marthese said...

Good luck @1db1eb2a1db1339b767e8a3f971d89ee and welcome!
Your entry No. (7CHERUBSPRETENDPLAY31)

Natasha said...

Your work is beautiful.

Marthese said...

@626bb0c2beddffbbbcd6620bcd545ae5 thank you :)

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