Before kids, when I was an imaginary mom, I romanticized what fun it would be to set up tea parties for my little ones, complete with stuffed animal guests, petit fours and a toile-patterned tea set.

Early on in the movie “Joy,” we see the protagonist at the age of 10 or so reach into a box of paper figures she created — a tree, a bird, a fence — and start to tell her friend a story about them.

“Let’s pretend to be…” is commonly heard from young children as they play and interact at school, daycare, or at home. Many adults encourage imagination and creativity but others are afraid that ...

Many people often think of play in the form of images of young children at recess engaging in games of tag, ball, using slides, swings, and physically exploring their environments. But physical play ...

"Mom/Dad! I'm SOOO bored!" Hearing this can conjure a rolling of the eyes in most parents. Decades ago, playing outside until sunset cured the "I am bored" declaration. Children happily imagined being ...

Imagination is a powerful tool for children, according to many play specialists, because it helps kids learn how to take on and tackle life’s circumstances. It’s especially important for children work ...

Visit any preschool classroom during free play and you will likely see a child pretending to be someone else. Make-believe play is a ubiquitous part of early childhood. And beyond being fun for kids, ...

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 ...

Feeling left out by friends is a common and painful experience for young children. Using imaginary play, you can help your child work through the disappointment of being excluded — and learn to ...

“Sammy is a little bit mean. Sometimes he is a little bit nice, but he kinda hurts people and he kinda bited people. He bited me one time and he bited me right here, and it hurt really bad, but I didn ...

The coach, the specialized equipment, the carefully tailored exercise regimen – they’re all key to athletic performance. But imagination might be an unexpected asset when it comes to playing sports.

When an imaginary friend unexpectedly shows up in the house, he, she, or it can feel like a real presence. That's because kids can develop a rich and meaningful relationship with pals that don't exist ...