02/04/2026
Let them play!
A brand new Australian study has found that children with stronger pretend play skills at ages 2–3 had fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties at ages 4–5 and 6–7. That's a meaningful window of impact — and it starts at toddlerhood. 🌱
Here's what this means in practice:
🎭 Pretend play is more than fun — it's a building block for mental wellness
🏠 Playing house, feeding dolls, using a shoe as a car — these seemingly small moments matter enormously
🧠 It's not just about time spent playing, but the quality and ability to engage in pretend play
👩⏫ Early educators and caregivers have a powerful role in nurturing this skill
The research followed over 1,400 Australian children and found these benefits held even after accounting for family background, maternal mental health, and language ability. This isn't a small finding — it's a call to protect and prioritise play.
In a world where screen time is rising and unstructured play is shrinking, let kids be the directors of their own imaginary worlds. 🌍✨
The best intervention? Sometimes it's getting out of the way and letting them play.
💬 Are you a parent, educator, or allied health professional working with young children? Save this post and share it with someone who needs to see it.
Vasilopoulos, F., Grummitt, L., Bailey, S., Birrell, L., Dumontheil, I., Francis, G., Oliver, E., Karaolis, O., Ewing, R., Anderson, M., Teesson, M., & Barrett, E. L. (2026). Longitudinal evidence of the relationship between pretend play and mental health in the early years. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-026-02150-7
