Preschoolers and imaginative play

Post Reply New Topic

I have a 4-year-old (normal) son who loves to play. I have no problem coloring, playing Legos, reading, etc., but sometimes he wants me to pretend with him. I have a very difficult time with the back-and-forth required for this sort of play. He has taken to prompting me, which is not only embarrassing, but makes me feel inadequate. I would very much like to be able to pretend play with him. Any suggestions?

Keep an open mind, and go ahead and take your son's suggestions. It's not that you're inadequate to pretend with him, you're probably just the type of person who doesn't like to pretend.

I've been in this situation a lot, and I'd also recommend immersing yourself in the pretend character your son wants you to be. It will make it fun for the both of you.

Thanks, Makayla. I do take his prompts, but I wonder if that is quality play for him. I have a hard time immersing myself in the character...I go blank. Also, I like the quotation at the end of your signature. You should add this to it: "Fear is the mind killer." Frank Herbert, Dune.

Dune, eh? I should read that...

Taking a prompt actually increases potential for creativity on your son's part. He could have several ideas for the pretend play, like making you his horse one day and then his camel the next day.

Dune! Loved that book...took ages to finish because of how densely written some of it is, but well worth the read. I wonder if your son is actually aware that you're having trouble on your end, though? I bet you're doing a great job but perhaps, in your mind, it doesn't look as good as those Fisher-Price commercials, ha. If anything, I can at least offer my empathy. I remember the very first day of Kindergarten when we were allowed to play with toys as the teacher got setup...a girl approached me and asked to play house with some sort of mock kitchen toy. I had no real idea what she expected of me which lead to her frustratingly stomping off. Best of luck and I bet you're making more effort than most parents (says my memory of my own parents)!

I used to struggle mightily as a child but as an adult I remember what it was like to pretend and know how to play along. I remember the last a two year old girl wanted to play 'baker' I had no trouble playing along and even opened up by wallet to 'pay' which she had a warm smile and said "you don't need to give me any money!" It was tough but knowing how much it meant to that child made it easy.

The only clear memory of my paternal grandfather was when I was on the floor of his living room (4 years old) asking him to play 'garage' with me using the flappy part under the sofa as garage doors. He kept that permanent scowl he always had and just used his slipper to push a tinky for one second and proceeded to ignore me. My first memory of being insulted!

Never forget what Albert Einstein said Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.

I have the same problem. I'm fine with interacting with kids, behaving like a kid etc but I can't engage in imaginative play.

I usually just keep asking the kids at work questions "What are you doing now? Oh, you're taking me to prison? [a favourite of one girl I work with] What did I do?", then it comes from her rather than me but I'm still interacting with her.