Imaginative play for families: Tips to rediscover your inner child

by Laura Cummins | 25 March 2022

The sun has got his hat on (finally!), the birds are singing, and the chocolate eggs are prominent on the supermarket shelves, meaning one thing only: Easter.

Katie Piper says how imaginative play is a 'welcomed escape from reality' / Photo credit: The Academy PR

The celebration takes place on the 17th April 2022 and Easter half-term is fast approaching!

But are you scrambling around wondering how you can keep the kids entertained for a whole two weeks? Now is the perfect time to encourage imaginative play amongst the family. But it appears many parents need help reigniting their imagination as they have ‘forgotten’ how to play.

Disney’s ‘The Gift of Play’ campaign aims to promote imaginary play for parents and their children. The family favourite has combined 100 years of storytelling, a range of free videos, and easy to follow ‘how-tos’ to encourage play time for all.

‘The Gift of Play’ guide also includes a series of Disney Princess themed play-starter scenarios which have been created by parenting experts and theatrical stage-masters, to inspire adults and children to use their own surroundings and Disney stories to stimulate imagination and creativity.

Mother and broadcaster – Katie Piper – was guided by the Disney Stage Masters and theatrical performers to teach adults to make the most of playtime and performance through the Disney stage shows and films.

Katie hopes to encourage families to broaden their play time and make imaginary play fun for all: “Playtime with my children is a welcome escape from reality and we enjoy nothing more than that special time together, making up games and stories with our favourite Disney characters. Parents are going to get so much out of Disney’s new Gift of Play pack, they won’t run out of enjoyable and easy ways to inspire play together.”

Disney's 'The Gift of Play' hope to encourage more families to introduce imaginative play / Photo credit: The Academy PR

Parenting expert – Sue Atkins – has also teamed up with Disney’s ‘The Gift of Play’ campaign to share her tips for rediscovering play with your child:

FOLLOW THE CHILD’S LEAD Provide an object, toy, or activity for your child and then see what they do with it.
READ THE SIGNALS this will tell you which activities your child prefers, so be guided by them & go with the flow.
RELAX AND ENJOY Relax, show interest, approval and encouragement.
ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS Like “what do you think will happen if…?” or “what else can you do with…?”
BE A GOOD SPORT Express how much fun you had taking part and congratulate all the kids for taking part.
GO OUTSIDE Let your child experience playing with water, wind and the earth.
MAKE PLAY REGULAR Spend time playing together every day, be consistent and make the shared time special.
PRAISE GOOD BEHAVIOUR Let your child know what you like and be specific with praising good behaviour like when they play nicely with their friends or siblings.
BE ENCOURAGING Encourage your child and show them they have your full attention.
BE ENTHUSIASTIC Show your child you are excited to play with them.

The Institute of Imagination added: “Imagination is the starting point for creativity in all areas of human culture and endeavour, but the pressures of modern life mean that opportunities for imaginative play amongst children, and with their parents and carers, can often be neglected. To ensure our children, young people, and indeed adults, develop the skills to be creative and inventive, we believe it is incredibly important we all find the time and space to put our imaginations to work and one of the best ways of doing this is through play. We are so excited to be helping Disney on The Gift of Play initiative.”