Role Play vs Reality for Children?

Role Play: The mantra seems to be that children of all ages would benefit tremendously by engaging them in active role play. While there are many benefits of role play, I would like you to consider the possibility of pushing for active engagement and reality first with role play as a secondary option.

Play Kitchen:

*We have a KidKraft Ultimate Play Kitchen that occupies a significant portion of our living room. It has all the bells and whistles, with a stove that makes a boiling sound and a microwave that will beep. The refrigerator has an ice cube dispenser that they can push and dispense.

Special Christmas: Gourmet Chef

Our son was two years old when he received the kitchen as his Christmas gift and absolutely loved it! He spent a lot of time with his kitchen and even enjoyed “cooking” pasta and heated up drinks in his microwave. It was awesome! He can still role play to his heart’s desire but we allow him to push the buttons and “help” us make real food, coffee, and tea. Safety is always first so all the appliances are in a location he can’t reach but now, he says “I want to make coffee for you daddy.” We let him put the cup under our Keurig coffee maker, pop the K-cup in, and show him which buttons to press.

When it’s all done, I thank him profusely and give him a big hug and kiss—the joy on his face is truly genuine because he realizes he just helped his parent. As parents, we are our children’s role models and they want to do everything we do. Let them be independent! My wife helps our two year old son make the dough, put it into the pan, and then eat the cookies or muffin that they made together after the real oven beeps. I encourage you to let them do anything and everything that your child can do, as long as it is safe.

Challenge to You: Turn Role Play into Reality

My challenge to you is the following: before you jump in to “help” your children or before you do things for them, try to back off and let them do as much as they are able; then bask in their joy as you watch them beam with pride. Find one or two things this week for your children to do that they couldn’t do or weren’t allowed to do before.