Do your kids ask to play the same pretend scenarios over and over (and over and over and over) again? Are you waiting for them to move on from their favorite princess (pirate, superhero…) dress-up to something… ANYTHING… else?
I remember rolling my eyes when my daughter asked to play “cars” for the 359th time. Or when all she wanted to do was play veterinarian. I found myself getting bored and… to be honest… zoning out a bit while we played. (The temptation to scroll through random stuff on my phone was STRONG….!) I was pretty shocked to learn that repeating the same theme in dramatic play could actually HELP children develop better reasoning, self-control, and planning skills. While some variety is healthy and entertaining, repeating a play scenario can be comforting and… yes… beneficial.
The hidden benefits of repetition (yes… really!)
While playing the same thing over and over can put adults a little on edge… repeated pretend play can hold real benefits for children. I’ve written before about using open-ended prompts to help kids extend and elaborate their playtime. Those same strategies can be applied to repeated play scenarios.
If we encourage (or at least don’t discourage!) children to do it all again (maybe on consecutive days), they can add more details to the same scenario. For example, their superhero character might help out in a different way, the princess might go one more adventures after the royal ball, or the pirate might discover a whole new island full of treasure! Adding those details builds some early executive function (EF) skills: a little planning, figuring out the order of steps, and even thinking about consequences.
My daughter went through a phase when trucks and tractors were her favorite vehicles. We’d zoom them up and down ramps, haul wood blocks around, and keep quite busy. Each vehicle had it’s own name (Mitch, Leila, Green Bean…) and personality. There were MANY variations on playing with trucks… we’d end up adding something new from time to time at my daughter’s suggestion. At one point we had a “birthday party” for one of the flat bed trucks, complete with little paper party hats. I confess, THAT got me interested– and the novelty made us both happy!
You can use open-ended questions to help your child add depth and complexity to each repetition of their favorite play scenario. (This added variety also makes it more interesting for YOU, too, whether you’re playing along or on the sidelines!) For example, ask your child what additional ideas or details they will add to the plot: “After ___, what happens next?” or “What else could the Hungry Caterpillar eat?” As your child thinks through these ideas and begins to add more detail, THAT is when those budding EF skills get a workout!
Repetition can also help with social skills. Playing roles (especially characters from a story) helps kiddos understand other viewpoints. That’s the foundation of a vital social skill: empathy! That effect is amplified if they switch roles, too–they can see the same role from several perspectives. Older kids may be able to answer questions about why characters act as they do, even if it’s an action the child wouldn’t take herself, or demonstrates a belief the child doesn’t share..
For more open-ended prompts to encourage creative play with costumes, click here.
Simple costumes support creativity
To make all of this fun role play even MORE creative, add some simple costumes. I say simple because they can aid the imagination without directing or limiting the course of play. Although children always want dressups that feature their favorite characters, those can sometimes limit children’s visions of what a character can/should do. Include some simple multipurpose basics that can be combined to make new costumes. Scarves (like playsilks), hats and vests (like these), crowns (like this), or simple masks and capes (like these) can be a stimulating blank canvas for children’s own imaginations.
To get the kids even more involved in their pretend play, let them design their own costumes! This helps the child do some planning (another fine EF skill!). To make even a simple costume, they need to answer some questions: who they want to be? what does that character do? what props do they use? what do they wear?
There are lots of options in my shop!
Simple costumes that can be decorated with patches (like these) can make costume design fun and easy: a few flower patches can make a simple hat into an Easter bonnet. A name patch can transform a simple vest into a mechanic’s coveralls. Kids can even build their own simple, colorful, sturdy patches using a basic patch kit (like this one). With a little creativity and imagination, kids can transform their costumes again and again.
The tiny little interventions above get kiddos thinking, planning ahead, and cooperating as they play. With each repetition, their play scenario will become more complex (and independent!). Over time, your kids will naturally build their EF skills as part of normal, healthy, FUN, independent play!
Hi! I’m Jane, owner of The Rowdy Ladybug. I design and produce costumes and playthings for kids. Since I’m a parent like you, I know children’s products need to be FUN, washable, durable, safe, and comfortable. Everything I make is designed to exercise a child’s imagination while getting in their way as little as possible. To that purpose, I don’t use commercial characters or others’ copyrighted designs. I do what I can to keep my business as green and as local as possible.
I live in Washington, PA USA, with my husband and daughter. They tolerate my piles of fabric and occasional excited babbling when I create something new. We are supervised by two cats, who do a better job of holding down the furniture than keeping me out of trouble.
If you have questions about my shop, my blog, or my creative process, I’d love to hear from you!
