Better pretend play in toddlers links to fewer emotional problems later, and this connection is not explained by emotional ...

For children, rocks can be spaceships. Pens can be fairies. And this kind of play can help protect mental health in childhood ...

Pretend play is seen as a harmless way for kids to have fun, but it might serve a very important role in their mental health and development, a new study says. Toddlers who demonstrated a greater ...

From developing social skills to fostering creativity, pretend play in young children is likened to being a "metaphoric multivitamin" in an editorial published in the journal Neuroscience and ...

Pretend play isn’t just fun—it’s a brain-building, heart-growing powerhouse for kids. From sparking creativity to teaching empathy and problem-solving, it shapes skills they’ll use for life. With a ...

Researchers say there is evidence infants are exploring the world of make-believe before they're even aware they are doing it. A new study exploring the origins of pretend play suggests infants ...

Key Takeaways Playing pretend has positive benefits for childrenToddlers good at pretend play had greater mental health and better behavior by grade schoolEncouraging pretend play might help kids do ...