A child and a therapist playing with princesses and superhero figurines in a play therapy room. They are sitting on the carpet.

Pretend play is crucial in kids’ development

In this blog post, our team’s Natalie Bergman talks about
different developmental stages in children’s imaginative play.

The magic of early childhood play

As parents, we’ve all witnessed the magical stage where our kids become immersed in imaginative play, often dressing up as princesses, superheroes, or their favourite characters. This phase of life is not only adorable but also critical for children’s emotional and cognitive development. However, at some point, you may notice that your child begins to drift away from this magical world and shows less interest in princesses or superheroes.

When does this shift happen in kid’s imaginative play?

So, when does this shift typically happen, and why?

While every child is different, most children begin to lose interest in princess or superhero play between the ages of six and eight years old. At this stage, they grow from early childhood into middle childhood, where their cognitive and social skills are rapidly developing. At that point, their interests often shift from the symbolic, imaginative play of superheroes and princesses to more structured, reality-based activities.

This shift is a normal part of growing up and is linked to important developmental milestones. As children start to form their own identities and assert independence, their play becomes more aligned with real-life roles. For example, children may start to show interest in activities that reflect adult roles, such as playing house, pretending to be teachers, or exploring technology and hobbies.

This doesn’t mean that pretend play is over

It’s important to remember that outgrowing princess and superhero play doesn’t mean that imaginative play is over. Kids continue to use their creativity in different ways. For example, they may move on to reading fantasy books, creating stories, or playing video games that still allow for a degree of imaginative involvement.

So, when you notice your child hanging up their superhero cape or putting away their princess gown, take heart in knowing that this is just the beginning of a new adventure for them — and for you as their parent.

References

  • Singer, D. G., & Singer, J. L. (2005). Imagination and Play in the Electronic Age. Harvard University Press.
  • Bergen, D. (2002). The role of pretend play in children’s cognitive development. Early Childhood Research & Practice,  https://ecrp.illinois.edu/v4n1/bergen.html

Meet the author

Natalie Bergman, MA, RPsych, CPT
Natalie Bergman, MA, RPsych, CPTChild Psychologist at Kids Reconnect
Natalie is a Director and co-founder at Kids Reconnect. She is an experienced child psychologist and Certified Play Therapist who uses her professional expertise, playfulness, and caring heart Superpowers to emotionally connect with children, helping them heal using play therapy and warm heart-to-heart conversations. To help parents understand and connect with their child with love, gentleness, and patience, she uses her profound insights into the world of children. Natalie loves her playfulness Superpowers and play therapy training and experience to spark the joy of play for kids to grow and thrive.

Meet the editor

Ana Hoepfner, BEc
Ana Hoepfner, BEcCommunications at Kids Reconnect
Ana is a writer and designer who delivers business results through creative, joyful communications that surprise and delight. Leveraging her 15+ year track record of successfully building and boosting corporate, personal, community, and non-profit local and international brands, Ana designed, copywrote, and manages the “spark-tacular” Kids Reconnect, Couples Reconnect, and CRCG websites, including this blog. Building playful, imaginative user experiences into the Kids Reconnect website is one of Ana’s favourite ways to create communications sparkle.

Communicating with kids in ways that feel natural to them

Kids are masters of expressing themselves through play. That’s why in play therapy, therapists encourage imaginative play. It helps children work through challenges in a way that feels natural and engaging to them.

Our child therapists specialize in helping kids and adolescents to grow and thrive.

As kids grow, our therapists adapt and use different therapeutic interventions appropriate for kids’ and teens’ developmental stage, such as play therapy, sandtray therapy, art therapy, narrative therapy, and other therapeutic tools and modalities.